Rest on the Flight into Egypt (1620–69)
Original title: Rest on the Flight into Egypt
kurzbeschreibung
A seated figure cradles a child while a second figure sits beside her and looks on. Rembrandt's drawing of 1620–69 gives the Rest on the Flight into Egypt an intimate, domestic character. Executed in pen and brown ink, the sheet measures 16.2 by 18.9 cm. A camel behind the group keeps the journey in view.
Description
At the left a seated figure holds a child in her arms; to her right another figure sits and watches. Off to one side, in the right background, a camel lowers its head. The lines stay loose and sketchy, and the sheet does without elaborate shading. Scattered strokes suggest trees and clouds. The layout is plain and draws the eye to the closeness between the figures and the animal.
Context
Rembrandt's working years between 1620 and 1669 cover this drawing, and the Rest on the Flight was a familiar subject in seventeenth-century Dutch art. He made many biblical sheets, some as preparatory studies and some as independent works. There is no signature, so the dating remains uncertain and is generally placed in the middle to late phase of his career.
Impact
The sparing lines and calm arrangement give the sheet a familiar, thoughtful mood. There is something spontaneous and observed in its sketchiness, while much is left to the viewer's imagination. The camel in the background places the scene within the Eastern setting of the biblical narrative.
Technique
Pen and brown ink on paper are the means of this drawing. The lines flow and vary in pressure and weight, a trait characteristic of Rembrandt's drawing hand. Dark brown framing lines bound the sheet and enclose the arrangement.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)