Leiden 1606 - 1669 Leiden

The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook, 1654

Etching

97 x 145 mm.; 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches

Reference:

Bartsch/Hollstein 55 

Hind 276

Biörklund/Barnard 54-D

Notes:

1. A fine, early impression of the only state of this intimately conceived work. With touches of burr and the scratch across the Virgin’s cheek visible, all corresponding to an early impression.

2. The biblical scene here takes place just after The Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). Except for the addition of the "brook", in his etching, Rembrandt closely follows the text of Matthew 2: 13-15:

When they [the Magi] had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him". Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.