Luca GiordanoItalian, 1646–1705The Flight into Egypt
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “The Flight into Egypt” now? The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gallery 624, New York. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.
New York, United States
Closed· opens at 10:00 AM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
Details
- Accession number
- 61.50
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Open Access (CC0)
In the life of Luca Giordano
The whole life1692–1702 · Workplace
Madrid
1692–1702
His speed reaches its peak
His nickname “Luca fa presto” (“Luca paints quickly”) is fully borne out in Spain: the Prior of the Escorial reports to Charles II that in a single day Giordano paints ten to twelve figures three times life size, with the angels and clouds that go with them, while the two theologians instructing him in the mysteries answer more slowly than he asks his questions.
1700
Charles II dies: commissions only from private patrons
After the death of Charles II, Giordano works only for private patrons, although Philip V greatly admires his art.
8 February 1702
Leaves Madrid for Naples
Leaves Madrid and returns to Naples. During his decade in Spain he painted major decorative schemes at the Buen Retiro, the Escorial, the sacristy of Toledo Cathedral and the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, as well as part of the frescoes in the church of San Antonio de los Alemanes.
1702–1705 · Workplace
Naples
1702–1705
Late years in Naples
After his return he goes on painting prolifically, in a lighter, less rhetorical style that prefigures the Rococo. He spends large sums on acts of munificence and is particularly liberal to poorer artists.
