Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1540 - 1620

Luca Cambiaso created this drawing, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt,” using pen and brown ink. The Holy Family are shown resting: Mary nurses the infant Jesus while Joseph sits close by. The image of the Madonna Lactans, Mary nursing the infant Jesus, has ancient roots. We see it echoed in images of Isis nursing Horus in ancient Egypt, a maternal symbol of nourishment and divine protection. This motif evolved through the Byzantine era, maintaining its sacred character. The nursing Madonna strikes a chord deep within our collective psyche, resonating with primal needs for nurture and safety. It also shows up in secular contexts; for example, Roman depictions of Juno suckling infant gods were symbols of maternal affection and divine care, linking the nursing Madonna to enduring themes of love and sustenance throughout art history. This symbol has an ongoing, cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving in different historical contexts.