Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1750 - 1821

Jean Jacques Lagrenée created this drawing called 'Rest on the Flight into Egypt' with pen and brown ink and wash in France in the 18th Century. The scene depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus pausing during their escape to Egypt, attended by angels. This work reflects the cultural and religious values prevalent in France at the time. The Catholic Church was a dominant institution, and religious art served to reinforce its teachings and inspire devotion. Lagrenée, trained at the Royal Academy, would have been influenced by its emphasis on classical ideals and academic standards. The depiction of the Holy Family in a serene, pastoral setting evokes a sense of divine protection and intervention, suggesting a conservative society, where religious imagery affirmed traditional hierarchies. To understand this artwork fully, scholars consult historical texts, religious commentaries, and archival records to explore the social, political, and religious contexts of the time, and the ways art served to promote the values of both Church and State.