The Flight into Egypt 1648 - 1650

Carlo Dolci painted this Flight into Egypt sometime in the mid-17th century. The painting, a common subject for the period, depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod's decree to kill all male children. Dolci was a devout Catholic living in Florence. In this painting, like many others, he presents a very sentimental and idealized version of religious stories. You can see this in the way he gives the figures delicate features and soft lighting. This style can be seen as a product of the Council of Trent's call for art that was morally correct. Dolci was active within the established art institutions of Florence and became known for his technical skill and refined style. His painting reflected a conservative aesthetic sensibility that favored clarity, order, and emotional restraint. Looking at the painting through the lens of social and institutional history, we can better understand the factors that shaped Dolci's artistic output and its reception by audiences of his time.