Flight into Egypt (La Huida a Egipto)

This painting was part of the main altarpiece at Alpuente Parish Church in Valencia. The altarpiece was moved in the late 18th century to San Miguel Arcángel Parish Church in the small village of Collado. Zaragoza Museum (Museo de Zaragoza) also has another panel from this altarpiece: The Massacre of the Innocents. Flight into Egypt depicts a common subject in religious painting, but adds to it with innovative elements. One such element is a young woman, probably Salome, who is extremely elegant and wearing the fashion of the period in which the painting was completed, with rich fabrics and opulent jewelry. The background contains a pretty landscape with lush vegetation and birds. Stylistically, these paintings represent the transition from the Italian-influenced Gothic (Italo-Gothic) style to the international Gothic style and are characterized by their expressive delicacy and brilliant polychromy.