The Flight into Egypt 1650

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo painted "The Flight into Egypt" in oil on canvas, and it now resides in the Detroit Institute of Arts. Murillo was a leading artist in 17th-century Seville, Spain, a period marked by religious fervor and social stratification. This painting portrays the biblical narrative of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod's infanticide. But it's not just a religious scene; it reflects the social realities of Murillo's time. We can see the figures depicted with a certain humility, emphasizing their humanity, yet idealized to convey divinity. The family are clearly poor, a typical artistic trope used to draw parallels between the Holy Family and the common man. Understanding this artwork requires delving into the social and religious context of Baroque Spain. Religious institutions heavily influenced artistic production, shaping the themes and styles that artists like Murillo pursued. Art historians use archival records, religious texts, and social histories to understand the intricate relationship between art, society, and the institutions of its time.