Rest on the Flight into Egypt c. 1620s

"Rest on the Flight into Egypt" is a preparatory drawing by Italian Baroque artist Pietro da Cortona, dating back to the 1620s. Executed in pen and ink, the drawing captures a moment from the biblical narrative of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, a popular theme in art. The composition features the Virgin Mary cradling the Christ child, while Joseph, rendered in a gestural, dynamic style, appears to be asleep, perhaps exhausted from their perilous journey. This drawing, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to Cortona’s masterful draftsmanship and his ability to imbue even a simple composition with a sense of drama and emotion.