Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Sebastiano de' Valentinis

Rest on the Flight into Egypt c. 1550 - 1555

pen drawing

pen illustration

pen sketch

personal sketchbook

ink drawing experimentation

pen-ink sketch

pen work

sketchbook drawing

sketchbook art

doodle art

Sebastiano de' Valentinis's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" (c. 1550-1555) is a small etching depicting the biblical scene of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus resting during their escape to Egypt. The composition, typical of the Renaissance era, showcases a detailed landscape with a distant city, a foreground populated by the holy family, and a winged angel announcing their safe passage, holding a scroll with the words "Pax Vobis" (Peace to You). This artwork is characteristic of de' Valentinis's signature style: a delicate and meticulous rendering of figures and scenery. It is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

⋮

Like the two prints on this wall at the right, this etching features a mix of Italian and northern elements. The trees with their mossy branches are reminiscent of those by the German artist Albrecht Altdorfer, who made the first landscape etchings around 1520. De’ Valentinis was one of the earliest Italian artists to use the graphic qualities of the etching technique to create landscapes.