Landscape with the Flight into Egypt 1624

Roelandt Savery painted this oil on panel, “Landscape with the Flight into Egypt”, sometime in the early 17th century. The painting depicts a biblical scene within an idealized landscape, a popular genre in Northern European art at the time. But Savery’s painting also reflects the social and political climate of the Dutch Golden Age. Look at how the landscape dominates the composition, dwarfing the figures of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus. This emphasis on the natural world reflects the growing interest in scientific observation and exploration during this period. We can understand this artwork better by researching the patronage systems in place at the time, noting that Savery worked for the imperial court in Prague. We should also consider the history of religious tolerance in the Dutch Republic, where the painting was created. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art is not created in a vacuum, but is shaped by the social, cultural, and institutional forces of its time.