Repose in Egypt c. 19th century

Editor: This is Antonio Perfetti's "Repose in Egypt." The composition is really interesting with the holy family seemingly welcomed into a classical landscape by angels. What stands out to you about its visual narrative? Curator: The image evokes a sense of divine sanction for the Holy Family's presence in Egypt. Angels proffer gifts. Perfetti presents Egypt as a realm acknowledging and venerating Christian figures, a common theme in post-Enlightenment European art where biblical narratives became entwined with colonial perspectives and the projection of cultural power. Notice the elephant in the background, a symbol of exoticism. Editor: That makes me think about the way we choose to depict history through art. Curator: Precisely. The politics of imagery! Perfetti's piece reflects the European gaze upon other cultures, a visual assertion of dominance and a recasting of biblical history within a contemporary framework.