The Return from Egypt, the Christ child walking between the Virgin and Saint Joseph

Art Historical Context

This enchanting engraving, *The Return from Egypt, Christ Child Walking Between the Virgin and Saint*, captures a tender moment from the Holy Family's biblical journey home after fleeing Herod's massacre (Matthew 2:13–23). Created around 1650–87, it draws from designs associated with Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish Baroque master known for his dramatic, emot religious scenes, with engravings by Gerard Seghers and Franserti. The image shows the young Christ walking hand-in-hand with Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey, evoking the humanity and devotion central to Counter-Reformation art. As a reproductive print, this work exemplifies 17th-century engraving techniques, where skilled artisans incised intricate lines into copper plates to replicate paintings with remarkable fidelity. Measuring about 10 13/16 × 7 13/16 inches on the plate, it allowed Rubens' vibrant compositions—full of soft lighting, flowing drapery, and emotional warmth—to reach a wider audience beyond oil canvases. Produced in Rubens' prolific Antwerp workshop, such prints disseminated Baroque ideals of faith and family piety across Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1951), this piece highlights printmaking's role in cultural devotion, blending artistry with accessibility for homes and churches alike. A beautiful reminder of sacred storytelling through masterful lines.

About the Artist

Frans Huberti|Gerard Seghers|Frans Huberti|Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish|Flemish|Flemish|Flemish) · 1650 |1591 |1650 |1577 –1687 |1651 |1687 |1640

Flemish, active 1650–87|Flemish, Antwerp 1591–1651 Antwerp|Flemish, active 1650–87|Flemish, Siegen 1577–1640 Antwerp