The Rest on the Flight into Egypt c. 1635

Alessandro Algardi created this bronze relief sculpture entitled, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt. It tells the story of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod's decree to kill all male children in Bethlehem. As a sculptor working in 17th century Italy, Algardi was deeply influenced by the Catholic Church, which was then a major patron of the arts. During the Counter-Reformation, the Church sought to reaffirm its authority and inspire religious fervor through art. Depicting the Holy Family's flight was a popular theme because it emphasized their vulnerability and humanity. The choice to sculpt this scene in bronze, a material often associated with permanence and grandeur, elevates the Holy Family's status. To truly understand this artwork, scholars consult religious texts, historical documents, and artistic treatises. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.