Rest on the flight into Egypt 18th century

This is an undated drawing called ‘Rest on the Flight into Egypt’, located here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was made anonymously, but signed ‘par Simon de Pesaro’. It depicts a biblical scene laden with centuries of patriarchal interpretations of the mother and child. In most depictions, Mary is typically shown as serene and composed. Here, she is presented as a strong woman, but also a figure who is both burdened and resigned. We see her standing with baby Jesus, perhaps exhausted from her travels, seeking refuge in a foreign land. Joseph sits nearby, perhaps wary and watchful. It is interesting to consider the emotional undercurrents of this particular depiction. Are they merely travelers seeking safety, or do they represent the universal experience of displaced people seeking refuge from persecution? This drawing becomes a powerful reminder of the vulnerability and resilience inherent in the human experience.