Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Description

Formerly ascribed to the French painter Simon Vouet (1590-1649), Rest on the Flight into Egypt has only recently been attributed to Poerson, a collaborator and follower of Vouet. Intended to be a small devotional picture, this painting on oak panel depicts a quiet scene of the Holy Family resting; the Virgin Mary sits while an angel brings the plump young Christ Child fruit, and St. Joseph leads their donkey away to graze. The delicate pinks and blues and the transparent treatment of light and shadow create a gentle domestic atmosphere, characteristic of Vouet's Italian-influenced work.

Provenance

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (1973-); (Galerie Joseph Hahn, Paris, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) 1 (Until 1973)

Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Charles Poërson

c. 1640

Accession Number

1973.32

Medium

oil on wood

Dimensions

Framed: 57.5 x 67.5 x 6.5 cm (22 5/8 x 26 9/16 x 2 9/16 in.); Unframed: 35.5 x 45.9 cm (14 x 18 1/16 in.)

Classification

Painting

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund