Nativity
Flight into Egypt
Purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows and with special assistance of Mrs. Frederick B. Adams, Sr., Mrs. Robert Charles, Mr. Laurens M. Hamilton, The Heineman Foundation, Mrs. Donald F. Hyde, Mrs. Jacob M. Kaplan
In this Nativity, Mary and Joseph kneel in adoration of their son, the Savior. Although Joseph holds a candle, its light is rendered moot by the radiantly lit sky from which the angel descends to tell the good news to the shepherds tending their flocks in the hills. Typical of the artist's interest in detail is the distant castle, surrounded by a ruined wall, to which a man makes his way along a winding path. The smaller miniature illustrates the Holy Family's journey to Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter of all newborn children (for he had heard that one would overthrow him).