“Landscape with the Flight into Egypt,” created in 1647 by the esteemed artist Claude Lorrain, is an oil painting on canvas that epitomizes the principles of the Classicism movement. This religious painting, measuring 134 x 102 cm, is housed at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany.
The artwork portrays an idyllic scene that combines both religious and pastoral elements. In the foreground, figures can be discerned, likely depicting Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus, who are traditionally associated with the Flight into Egypt narrative. These figures are accompanied by domesticated animals as they traverse a verdant landscape that stretches across the scene. Majestic trees dominate the left side of the painting, their rich foliage creating a natural canopy that contrasts with the open, sunlit expanse to the right. In the middle ground, a serene river meanders through rolling hills while distant mountains and ancient structures are faintly visible in the background. Bathed in soft, golden light, the scene conveys a sense of tranquility and divine protection, characteristic of Lorrain’s mastery in landscape painting and his ability to infuse natural settings with allegorical meaning.
