Rest on the Flight into Egypt c. 16th century

Editor: This is Luca Bertelli's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The composition, with its dense cross-hatching, creates a very textured surface. What strikes you most about its formal qualities? Curator: The interplay of line and form dictates the narrative. Observe how the artist uses varied densities of hatching to define volume and shadow. Note also the spatial arrangement, creating depth through overlapping planes. Editor: So, the technique itself emphasizes the story's key elements through visual cues? Curator: Precisely. The linearity emphasizes the journey, while the areas of rest are visually softer. Consider how the landscape acts as both setting and symbolic framework. What do you notice about the positioning of the figures? Editor: It’s almost like a stage, drawing our eyes to the central figures. I see how the composition and technique reinforce the narrative. Curator: Indeed, the visual structure guides our reading of the work.