FINE ART : PAINTINGS
- Title
- The Dawn of Christianity (The Flight into Egypt) (1841)
- Object Name
- Painting
- Maker
-
Turner, Joseph Mallord William 1775-1851 (Primary maker)
Turner, Joseph Mallord William 1775-1851 (artist) - Date Made
-
1841
1841 - Description
- The greatest English painter of his generation, Turner has his roots in the English topographical watercolour tradition. His late works of the 1840s, of which this is a superb example, are characterized by brilliant colour and free brushwork. The Flight into Egypt depicts Mary, Joseph and the infant Christ fleeing into Egypt to escape King Herod. The broken Egyptian architecture half-submerged in the Nile recalls Turner’s vaporous, romantic visions of Venice, and conveys a sense of faded power and crumbling prestige. In contrast to the ruined temples, a piercing ray of light appears to fall directly on the Christ child illuminating the new religion and the promise of salvation. The snake is a reference to Christ’s triumph over the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- Materials
- oil & bees-wax on canvas
- Catalogue Number
- BELUM.U224
- Copyright
- National Museums NI
National Museums NI holds over a million objects in the collection, as well as this we manage the records and associated images for each object through a working database. The national collection has been almost 200 years in the making, and we recognise that thinking about collecting and collections has evolved over this time and continues to evolve. As a result, some of our records may contain language and views that we now consider offensive and unacceptable, for example, reflecting racist attitudes. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to reviewing and updating our records accordingly. Working with researchers, communities and academic partners we are learning more about the stories behind objects, and we are committed to sharing these with our audiences. We welcome feedback. Please email [email protected]