Rest on the Flight into Egypt

About the Artwork

Formerly ascribed to the French painter Simon Vouet (1590-1649), Rest on the Flight into Egypt has only recently been attributed to Poerson, a collaborator and follower of Vouet. Intended to be a small devotional picture, this painting on oak panel depicts a quiet scene of the Holy Family resting; the Virgin Mary sits while an angel brings the plump young Christ Child fruit, and St. Joseph leads their donkey away to graze. The delicate pinks and blues and the transparent treatment of light and shadow create a gentle domestic atmosphere, characteristic of Vouet's Italian-influenced work.

Provenance

1973-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio Until 1973: (Galerie Joseph Hahn, Paris, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) 1

Exhibition history

Year in Review: 1973. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 30-March 17, 1974). When Angels Bent Near the Earth to Touch Their Harps of Gold: The Christmas Story. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 1, 1981-January 17, 1982).

Quick Overview

Artist: Charles Poërson (French, 1609–1667)
Date: c. 1640
Medium: oil on wood
Dimensions: Framed: 57.5 x 67.5 x 6.5 cm (22 5/8 x 26 9/16 x 2 9/16 in.); Unframed: 35.5 x 45.9 cm (14 x 18 1/16 in.)
Type: Painting
Classification: Painting
Department: European Painting and Sculpture
Credit line: Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
Accession no.: 1973.32

Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.