Flight into Egypt 1685

Editor: We are looking at "Flight into Egypt" created around 1685 by Luca Giordano, an oil painting showing Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus on their journey. I'm struck by the intense contrast between the dark, earthy tones and the glowing, almost heavenly figures. It feels like a story of struggle and hope. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: It's funny, isn't it? How Giordano gives us this divine entourage – a legion of plump cherubs flitting about, nearly knocking into each other like excitable pigeons! It's pure Baroque drama, dialled up to eleven. Yet, the real juice for me is in the weary humanity of Joseph, almost pleading with the oarsman. It's a recognition, I think, that even the holiest family needs help from the most ordinary places. Do you feel that tension between the sacred and the profane, that hum of real life vibrating beneath the miracle? Editor: Absolutely, the oarsman's struggle feels so… human compared to the hovering angels! I hadn't thought about it that way, but seeing Joseph's gesture as pleading really changes the dynamic for me. It is relatable now. Curator: Yes! And those dark, almost murky waters... imagine them as our own doubts and fears as we embark on our own life's journey. The "Flight into Egypt" then becomes a metaphor for any time we’re forced to flee a known world for an uncertain future. Who is going to help me?, you might ask yourself. That humble oarsman might be your answer! Editor: Wow, I love that reading of the water and the overall narrative. It's shifted my perspective entirely! It makes you think differently about your challenges, your future. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Giordano takes a famous biblical story and infuses it with such accessible emotional resonance, makes you ponder universal stories of resilience. Art alchemy at its finest!