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The Rest on the Flight into Egypt (recto)
About the Artwork
This drawing relates to Luc-Olivier Merson's Rest on the Flight into Egypt, among the most popular paintings exhibited at the 1879 Paris Salon. This dream-like, highly unusual image from the familiar bible story shows Mary and Christ resting peacefully in the arms of a Sphinx, while Joseph sleeps near their dwindling fire. In the wake of its extraordinary success, Merson made several painted replicas of the work. Here, the composition is identical, but reversed, suggesting that it may have been an alternative version of the canvas.
Provenance
Galerie David Jones, Paris Galerie David Jones, Paris
Quick Overview
- Artist
- Luc-Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920)
- Date
- c. 1879–80
- Medium
- gray and graphite wash, with scraping and traces of black chalk
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 14.5 x 25.5 cm (5 11/16 x 10 1/16 in.); Secondary Support: 27.9 x 39 cm (11 x 15 3/8 in.)
- Type
- Drawing
- Classification
- Drawing
- Department
- Drawings
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Accession no.
- 1997.178.a
More by Luc-Olivier Merson in museum collections
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt (recto); Sketch of a Sphinx [?] (verso)
Luc-Olivier Mersonc. 1879–80 · Drawing
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Open-access museum record · AT-00011324
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