The Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1593 - 1660

Francesco Albani painted "The Rest on the Flight into Egypt" using oil on canvas. Canvas, made from woven linen or hemp, had become a popular support for painting by Albani’s time, allowing for larger and more portable artworks. In the painting, the thin layers of oil paint allow light to reflect, creating luminous colors and soft, blended forms. Note the ultramarine blue of Mary’s cloak, made from lapis lazuli, a precious pigment that signified wealth. Albani would have carefully ground and mixed these pigments with oil to achieve the right consistency and hue. The smooth surface of the painting is a testament to Albani’s skill and labor. The making of art in this period involved the contributions of workshops, where apprentices would assist in preparing materials, priming canvases, and even painting less important passages. The context of its making, with the division of labor and the use of costly materials, reminds us of the economic systems that underpinned artistic production in Albani’s time. Appreciating the material choices, the processes, and the social context allows us to understand the true breadth of this artwork.