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The Flight into Egypt
Giotto, The Flight into Egypt, c. 1305
- Painter
- Giotto
- Collection
- Scrovegni Chapel, Padua
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:14
- Published
- 5 October 2026
- Image
- Wikimedia Commons, public domain ↗
Mary sits upright on the donkey as on a throne, the child tied to her in a sling. Joseph walks ahead and looks back. An angel flies above them and points the way.
The fresco is part of the cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, painted around 1305. The mountain behind Mary repeats her outline and holds the group together. Giotto adds companions the Gospel does not mention: a boy leads the donkey, and three more follow behind.
Mother and child look straight ahead, in the direction of the journey.
The angel turns round in flight to see whether they are following.