Rembrandt van Rijn - [Flight into Egypt: night piece]

Print shows Joseph, holding a lantern, leading a donkey on which Mary and Jesus are riding.
Title from shelflist card.
Paper shows a watermark of three balls on the right margin.
Ex. Coll.: J.A. Boerner (Lugt 269).
Bartsch, 53
Bjorklund, 51-E (5th state)
Rovinski, 53 (5th state)
Forms part of: Fine print filing series (Library of Congress).

The Flight into Egypt is a biblical event in which Mary and Joseph, with the infant Jesus, fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod, who was seeking to kill the baby Jesus. The event is described in the New Testament in the Gospel of Matthew. The scene usually depicts Mary and Joseph, on horseback or on foot, traveling through a barren landscape with the baby Jesus in Mary's arms. The scene is meant to symbolize the Holy Family's flight from danger and their trust in God to provide for them during their journey.