Simone CantariniItalian, 1612–1648Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” now? Collection: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Minneapolis, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod planned to kill the infant Jesus, who had been identified as King of the Jews. At the urging of an angel, Joseph took his family and fled to Egypt. The account of the trip itself is short and vague:
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. (Matthew 2:14-15)
That brevity left artists to fill the void with their imaginations. From the Middle-Ages on, those short verses led to countless interpretations. Simone Cantarini made no less than seven etchings depicting the family at rest during their wearying travels.
Read on
Cantarini was a largely self-taught artist who quickly absobed the style of other artists. As is evident in the present etching, he was especially interested in the work of Bolognese master Guido Reni and went to work in his studio. Cantarini's biogrpahers portray him as having poor interpersonal skills and a penchant for insubordination, which boiled over into conflict with Reni. Seeing the quietude of this etching, one would hardly suspect turbulence in his life.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Details
- Accession number
- 2021.69.10
In the catalog
Sources
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art — public domain
