Flight into Egypt

In 1818, Schnorr von Carolsfeld headed for Rome, where as a Protestant he joined the circle of predominantly Catholic Nazarenes living there and whose art was closely aligned to that of medieval Christianity. In 1827, shortly after returning to Germany, he painted the Flight into Egypt in the style of the Old Masters for Cornelia Charlotte Nies, who came from a rich Hugenot family. The subject was popular in the early 19th century and reflected the increased interest in the theme of the family. By virtue of the additional motif of Joseph being instructed by the Angel, he was able to create a scene with four figures in a harmonious equilateral triangular composition that filled the canvas. The expression of religious contemplation dominates the notion of the arduous path and means the image is not far removed from the theme of ‘rest on the flight’. The interaction of the protagonists and the countryside both take a back seat to this. (Kathrin DuBois)