Landscape with the Flight into Egypt
Herri met de Bles
1500-1550
A tree in the middle of the painting divides the vast mountain landscape into two halves: the good and holy on one side and the evil and dissolute on the other. The drawing's motif On a small path in the foreground to the left Joseph is seen following Mary riding on a donkey holding the Infant Jesus in her arms. Their piety and spiritual demeanour causes a gilt statue of a heathen god to tumble to the ground as they pass it by. In the middle ground to the right a merry company comes riding in a cart. Their doings denounce them as the advocates of the Seven Deadly Sins. For example, the company is led by a man playing the bagpipes – a symbol of infidelity. Herri met de Bles and Herry de Patenier Herri met de Bles is believed to be the same person as a Herry de Patenier who was received as a master of the St. Luke’s Guild in Antwerp in 1535.
SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen · Image: SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Public domain · Text: SMK – National Gallery of Denmark (text: Eva de la Fuente Pederse) (adapted), CC0