Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1879 Luc Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920) DIMENSIONS 71.8 x 128.3 cm (28 1/4 x 50 1/2 in.) ON VIEW Frances Vrachos Gallery (Gallery 144) Fleeing persecution at the hands of Roman authorities, the Holy Family takes refuge in Egypt. Joseph dozes beside a dying campfire while his donkey grazes on sparse desert grass. At left sleep the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, crowned with a halo of light. They lie in the arms of a sphinx, its eyes turned to the heavens, where the first stars begin to appear. A successful Academic artist, Merson...