Rest on the Flight into Egypt (Munich)
Object type | Painting |
Genre | Religious |
Diameter | 21 cm |
Support | Panel |
Medium | Oil |
Collaborator notes | Possibly studio assistant |
Our attribution | Jan Brueghel the Elder |
Other authorities | Ertz 2008-10, #243 |
Location | Munich, Germany |
Collection | Alte Pinakothek |
Accession numbers | inv. #2876 |
Tags | Resting, Forest, Mountain, Putti, Christ, Holy family, New Testament, Virgin Mary |
Attribution of figures is uncertain. K. Renger believes them to be the work of a collaborator, possibly Rottenhammer, but I have examined this work and believe that the figures are probably the work of Jan himself. Particularly Joseph is a quintessential Jan figure. Neumeister now thinks that they could be the work of a studio assistant in Jan's studio, which is more possible than Rottenhammer but still not in my opinion necessary.
Related to Ertz 1979 #71 (2008-10 #209), The Sacrifice of Isaac.
Related to drawing also in Munich, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung #1362 Z (old number 730).
Mirjam Neumeister suggests (personal communication) that this could be an instance of a work where Jan semi-completed a picture as a version of another work and later completed it, with the figures, when a buyer wanted a certain type of picture. So in this case the present, secondary picture would have been initiated at the same time as the Geneva Sacrifice of Isaac of ca. 1600 and completed, perhaps by Jan's studio, at a later date.