VOS, Marten de
(b. 1532, Antwerpen, d. 1603, Antwerpen)

Return from the Flight to Egypt

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Oil on copper, 13 x 10 cm
Private collection

Rarer in religious iconography, the Return from the Flight to Egypt portrays the return journey of the Holy Family and Christ as an older child to Nazareth, which they had left to escape the fury of Herod. Set in a panoramic landscape, the scene describes the crossing of a river. The Family is sitting in a boat steered by two boatmen, one perched on the bow and the other on the stern. The Virgin, Joseph, Christ and their donkey are all on board. A fifth person is not identified.