The Rest on the Flight, reverse_ painted marble panel in a stone frame c. 1450

This reverse-painted marble panel, framed in stone, depicts the Holy Family's rest during their flight to Egypt. The Virgin Mary, swathed in blue, sits protectively with the Christ Child, attended by angels while Joseph gestures towards the heavens, an old man leading the donkey to water. Consider Joseph's raised hand, a gesture that echoes across centuries. We see it in classical depictions of orators, figures appealing to the gods, and even in modern political rallies. This simple reaching towards the sky embodies a deep, primal urge to connect with the divine, an aspiration embedded in our collective memory. The recurring motif of flight, driven by persecution and a desire for safety, is a powerful, emotionally charged symbol. It resonates with timeless themes of seeking refuge. This act of fleeing has resurfaced, evolving, and acquiring new meanings in various historical contexts.