The scene depicting 'The Rest on the
Flight into Egypt' by Federico Cantú is
indebted to Albrecht Dürer’s work. Both works are characterised by a touching
domesticity, showing the Holy Family tired after their long journey.
The flight into Egypt is a biblical
event described in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13-23), in which Joseph
fled to Egypt with Mary and infant son Jesus after a visit by Magi because they
learned that King Herod intended to kill the infants of that area. The episode
is frequently shown in art, as the final episode of the Nativity of Jesus in
art, and was a common component in cycles of the Life of the Virgin as well as
the Life of Christ.