Rest on the Flight into Egypt (Murillo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rest on the Flight into Egypt |
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| Artist | Bartolomé Esteban Murillo |
| Year | c. 1665 |
| Type | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 136.5 cm × 179.5 cm (53.7 in × 70.7 in) |
| Location | Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Rest on the Flight into Egypt is a beautiful painting created around 1665. It was made by a Spanish artist named Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. Today, you can see this painting at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The painting shows the Holy Family taking a break during a long journey. The Holy Family includes Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. They are joined by two small, winged figures called Cupids. This scene, where the family rests while escaping danger, was a very popular subject for artists to paint.
The Story Behind the Painting
The painting tells a story from the Bible. It's about a time when King Herod was the ruler. King Herod heard about the birth of a new "King of the Jews." He worried this new king would take his place.
Fleeing to Safety
To protect himself, King Herod planned to harm all the baby boys in the area. An angel warned Joseph about Herod's plan. The angel told Joseph to take his family and escape to Egypt. Egypt was a safe place because it was controlled by the Roman Empire.
Joseph listened to the angel. He, Mary, and baby Jesus quickly left their home. They traveled a long way to Egypt to be safe from King Herod.
Returning Home
After some years, they heard that King Herod had died. It was then safe for the family to return. They did not go back to their old town. Instead, they settled in a town called Nazareth. Nazareth is in the northern part of Israel.
See also
- Rest on the Flight into Egypt
- The Flight into Egypt (Murillo)
- 100 Great Paintings, 1980 BBC series
- In Spanish: Descanso en la huida a Egipto (Murillo) para niños
