Die Flucht nach Ägypten, mit einem Engel als Fackelträger c. 1777

Gottlieb Welté created this watercolor and gouache artwork depicting "The Flight into Egypt, with an Angel as Torchbearer" The image shows an intimate take on the Biblical story, and the artist’s selection of gouache and watercolor on paper is significant. The texture and pigment of gouache contribute to the image's dreamlike quality, while the transparency of watercolor adds depth and luminosity. Welté was part of a generation that saw a shift away from the grand history painting towards more intimate, domestic subjects. The techniques of gouache and watercolor lent themselves to this shift, as they are well suited for capturing nuanced emotion. His choice of gouache, allows for detailed rendering and layering, a slower, more deliberate practice compared to the swift application of watercolor. It is not just a rendering of a biblical story, but also a reflection on the changing social values of the late 18th century. It underscores the importance of material, craft, and context in understanding the work's full meaning, blurring the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.