The flight into Egypt, with the Holy Family in a boat

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures the biblical Flight into Egypt, showing the Family—Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus—crossing water by boat, a less common variation on the traditional journey by land. Created between 1730 and 1750, the print reflects the lasting popularity of this narrative in Christian art, symbolizing protection and divine guidance during times of peril. Luca Giordano, the Neapolitan Baroque master known for his luminous colors and dynamic compositions, likely provided the original design, which Pietro Monaco translated into this detailed engraving. As an engraving, the work exemplifies how reproductive prints helped spread artistic and religious imagery across Europe in the 18th century. Visitors to the Met’s collection can appreciate the fine linework that conveys movement in the rippling water and the figures’ expressive gestures, techniques that made such prints both affordable and widely influential. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1962, this sheet preserves Giordano’s dramatic vision for new generations while highlighting the collaborative nature of printmaking in the Baroque tradition.

About the Artist

Luca Giordano|Pietro Monaco · 1634–1705

Luca Giordano (1634–1705) was an Italian painter of the late Baroque period who was one of the most prolific and versatile artists of the seventeenth century, earning the nickname "Luca fa presto" ("Luca works fast") for his extraordinary speed of execution. Born in Naples, he studied under José de Ribera and traveled extensively in Italy, absorbing influences from the Venetian colorists, Pietro d...