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The Flight into Egypt

17th century
Not on view
Jacques Stella made this highly finished, radiant drawing of the Holy Family’s flight from King Herod as one of twenty-two scenes recounting the life of the Virgin Mary. Stella’s intention to have his depictions of the popular biblical narrative reproduced in print was only realized a century after his death, and under entirely false pretenses. In 1756, a later owner of the drawings had them engraved by Francesco Polanzani and published in Rome as designs by the famous painter Nicolas Poussin, who had been Stella’s close friend (see 1987.480). To increase their commercial profits, eighteenth-century publishers often falsified prints by intentionally misattributing them to more prominent artists.

Yasemin Altun, June 2024

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Flight into Egypt
  • Artist: Jacques Stella (French, Lyons 1596–1657 Paris)
  • Date: 17th century
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, heightened with white
  • Dimensions: 14 x 10 3/8 in. (35.6 x 26.3 cm.)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Harry G. Sperling Fund, 1987
  • Object Number: 1987.22
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Divers Ornements D'Architecture, Recueillis et Dessegnes Apres L'Antique, Jacques Stella French, Engraving
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Les jeux et plaisirs de l'enfance, Jacques Stella French
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