CHRISTMAS BIBLE-ART, Episode #28 of 33: THE HOLY FAMILY FLEES TO EGYPT, Part 1

[Hebrews 11:6]

CHRISTMAS BIBLE-ART EPISODE #28 of 33

THE HOLY FAMILY
FLEES TO EGYPT

H O S E A
CHAPTER 11

  “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.
  But the more I called Israel,
    the further they went from me.”

M A T T H E W
CHAPTER 2

When [the Magi] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

1
BERNARDO CAVALLINO
"Joseph’s Dream"

2
NICOLAS LABBÉ
"Joseph's Dream"

3
REMBRANDT
"Joseph’s Dream"

4
Detail
Source

5
INNOZENZ ANTON WARÄTHI
"Joseph's Dream"

6
DANIELE CRESPI
"Joseph’s Dream"

7
VICENT LÓPEZ PORTAÑA
"El Sueño de San José"

8
GERARD SEGHERS
"Dream of St. Joseph"

9
CORRADO GIAQUINTO
"Sueño de San José"

10
ANTONIO DEL CASTILLO Y SAAVEDRA
"The Dream of Saint Joseph to Flee to Egypt"

11
JUAN DE BORGOÑA
"Joseph's Dream"

12
JOSEF ADAM MÖLCK
"Joseph's Dream"

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.”

13
REMBRANDT
"The Flight into Egypt"

14
VICTOR PAUL MOHN
"The Flight into Egypt"

15
FRANCESCO GESSI
"Flight into Egypt"

16
MICHELANGELO DI PIETRO MEMBRINI
"Flight into Egypt"

17
LUCA GIORDANO
"Flight into Egypt"

18
JOHANN LISS
"Flight into Egypt"

19
FRANCESCO COZZA
"Flight into Egypt"

20
ADAM ELSHEIMER
"The Flight Into Egypt"

21
ALESSANDRO TURCHI
"Flight into Egypt Guided by Two Angels"

22
HENRY OSSAWA TANNER
"Flight Into Egypt"

23
GUSTAVE DORÉ
"The Flight Into Egypt"

24
MARCO BENEFIAL
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

25
FRANCESCO SOLIMENA
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

26
FRANCESCO MANCINI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

27
GIUSEPPE BARTOLOMEO CHIARI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt with an Angel
offering the Christ Child the Emblems of the Passion"

28
GIOVANNI MARIA MORANDI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

29
GIOVANNI ODAZZI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

30
GIOVANNI BATTISTA GAULLI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

31
ORAZIO GENTILESCHI, 1615
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

32
ORAZIO GENTILESCHI, 1625
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

33
ORAZIO GENTILESCHI, 1628
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

34
FILIPPO LAURI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

35
ANGELO CAROSELLI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

36
SIMONE CANTARINI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

37
CAVALIERE D'ARPINO
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

38
FRAN BOUCHER
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

39
PIER FRANCESCO MOLA
"Rest on Flight"

40
TANZIO DA VARALLO
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

41
POMPEO BATONI
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

42
JOACHIM PATINIR
"Rest during the Flight to Egypt"

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

43
LUC OLIVIER MERSON
"Rest on the Flight into Egypt"

To be continued…

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added
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TOPICS: Apologetics; General Discusssion; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: art; bible; christmas

[Hebrews 11:6]

Episode #28 of 33

LINKS TO PREVIOUS EPISODES:
  #1—JESUS’ VERY INTERESTING GENEALOGY
  #2—GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR ZECHARIAH
  #3—GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, Part 1
  #4—GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, Part 2
  #5—GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, Part 3
  #6—MARY VISITS HER COUSIN ELIZABETH, Part 1
  #7—MARY VISITS HER COUSIN ELIZABETH, Part 2
  #8—MARY'S "MAGNIFICAT" PRAISES GOD
  #9—THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
#10—GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR JOSEPH
#11—JOSEPH AND MARY WED
#12—JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM
#13—NO ROOM AT THE INN
#14—IT'S A BOY! Part 1
#15—IT'S A BOY! Part 2
#16—IT'S A BOY! Part 3
#17—SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO HEAR OF THE SAVIOR, Part 1
#18—SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO HEAR OF THE SAVIOR, Part 2
#19—SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR, Part 1
#20—SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR, Part 2
#21—OUCH!!! JESUS IS CIRCUMCISED
#22—BABY JESUS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE
#23—BABY JESUS IN THE TEMPLE, WITH SIMEON & ANNA
#24—MAGI FOLLOWING THE PROPHECY AND THE STAR
#25—ADORATION OF THE MAGI, Part 1
#26—ADORATION OF THE MAGI, Part 2
#27—ADORATION OF THE MAGI, Part 3

[Hebrews 11:6]

A R C H I V E S
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P I N G   L I S T
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[Maudeen]

Thanks for your “image ministry”!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Or “Imago Dei” ministry.

[telescope115]

My favorite is the very last. #43. I remember the last time you posted it. I thought you might’ve left it out, but (imo), you saved the best for last. Thank you.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The first and last images are places of honor. There is widespread agreement that Merson’s is a masterpiece.

[etabeta]

Great paintings.
$8 Crespi painting in rich colors and clear strokes.
#10
#43 Merson

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wonderful!! Thanks for collecting these and putting this together (as with all your contributions).

I'm struck at the depictions of Joseph as such an old man. It immediately brought to mind the Cherry Tree Carol (a favorite of mine, especially by Judy Collins).

The Cherry-Tree Carol
By Anonymous

1. Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he;
He married sweet Mary,
The queen of Galilee.

---

I asked Grok about the age difference between Mary and Joseph and noted how old he is depicted in art.

The Bible does not provide the ages of Mary or Joseph at the time of Jesus' birth or their betrothal/marriage, so there is no definitive age difference.

Mary's Estimated Age. Historical and cultural context from 1st-century Judaism suggests girls were often betrothed around puberty and married shortly after, typically between 12 and 16 years old. Most scholars place Mary in this range (commonly 13–16) when she gave birth to Jesus.

Joseph's Estimated Age. Joseph's age is more debated and lacks clear historical evidence:

• Some early Christian traditions (from apocryphal texts like the 2nd-century Protoevangelium of James or later works like the History of Joseph the Carpenter) depict him as an elderly widower, often 80–90 (or even older), to emphasize Mary's perpetual virginity and explain Jesus' "brothers" as step-siblings from Joseph's prior marriage.
• Modern biblical scholars and historians generally view him as younger—likely in his 20s or 30s (or possibly late teens to 40s)—since he was a working carpenter, undertook long travels (e.g., to Bethlehem and Egypt), and lived at least until Jesus was about 12.

Some sources suggest both were teenagers (e.g., Mary ~16, Joseph ~18).

Age Difference. Any age difference is speculative. In historical-cultural estimates, Joseph was likely older than Mary by several years (e.g., 5–20 years), as men often married later after establishing a trade. Extreme gaps (e.g., 70+ years) stem from non-biblical traditions, not the canonical Gospels.

While popular imagination often portrays a significant gap, the most evidence-based view is that Mary was a young teenager and Joseph a young adult, with an uncertain but moderate difference.

In the overwhelming majority of traditional Western Christian art—especially from the medieval period through the Baroque era—the "Flight into Egypt" (Matthew 2:13–15) shows Mary as a youthful woman (often teenage-looking) riding a donkey with the infant Jesus, while Joseph is portrayed as a much older man, frequently with white or graying hair, a full beard, and a weary posture as he leads the way on foot.

This convention became dominant for theological and doctrinal reasons rooted in early Christian apocryphal texts (not the canonical Bible). The most influential is the 2nd-century Protoevangelium of James, which depicts Joseph as an elderly widower with adult children from a prior marriage, chosen by lot to serve as Mary's protector and guardian.

This portrayal supported the developing doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity: an aged Joseph was seen as unlikely to consummate the marriage, and it explained references to Jesus' "brothers and sisters" (e.g., Mark 6:3) as step-siblings rather than biological children of Mary.

The Bible itself is silent on their ages, Joseph's marital history, or physical appearances, so these artistic choices reflect tradition and theology rather than historical evidence. In 1st-century Jewish culture, Joseph (as a working carpenter capable of long journeys) was more likely a young or middle-aged adult.

In contrast, some modern or contemporary Christian art breaks from this tradition, showing Joseph as younger and more vigorous, closer to probable historical reality:

[Hebrews 11:6]

Alba, through several years you’ve given us a master-class in appreciating these. Thank you so very much!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for that. To me, Joseph’s ability to trek to Egypt is a convincing argument for his youthfulness and vigor. That said, as the original poster, it is my duty to avoid starting a brouhaha here over whether Mary was perpetually a virgin—although I have my own strong opinion.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Agree on youthfulness and vigor. And it wasn’t easy being a carpenter without power tools.

It never occurred to me before that he is depicted at age 80 to support the virginal birth.

[Albion Wilde]

👍

[left that other site]

I LOVE the last one.

Also the Tanner.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Poor Gentileschi, though: never quite satisfied.

[left that other site]

Possibly because his Daughter Artemesia was arguably a better painter.

[Hebrews 11:6]

There was a lot going on in that family....

[left that other site]

There was indeed!

[InkStone]

These are the best Dan; thank you most sincerely.

LUC OLIVIER MERSON
“Rest on the Flight into Egypt”

One of my favorites also.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks, Leon. Still have a few arrows in my quiver.