Flight into Egypt
ca. 1630â1631
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of George Campbell Cooper
Accession Number
1896-3-128
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Claude Lorrain's *Flight into Egypt* (. 1630–1631) captures a pivotal biblical moment from the Gospel of Matthew: the Family's hurried escape from King Herod's massacre of the innocents. Painted early in Lorrain's career, this landscape exemplifies the French artist's mastery of luminous, idealized scenery, blending serene natural beauty with subtle narrative drama. Though the medium remains under study, its classification as a landscape highlights Lorrain's signature focus on expansive vistas bathed in golden light. Working primarily in Rome during the Baroque era, Lorrain drew inspiration f...