The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Lucas Cranach the Elder

National Gallery of Art

This is a print depicting a pastoral scene with numerous cherubs interacting with nature. The print features a large tree in the center, surrounded by several small, winged cherubs who are either perched on its branches, playing among the leaves, or sitting with each other on the ground. Details give the tree a dynamic character, with its gnarled branches twisting in various directions. Below the tree, a woman sits, holding an infant. On the left, a man bends down towards her, holding the reigns of a donkey that stands next to him on the far left. In the background, the small shapes of buildings seem to indicate a distant town or village.