Rest on the Flight into Egypt was painted by the Venetian Renaissance master Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian, while he was in his late teens or possibly 20 years old in the year 1508. The painting was inspired by Joseph’s dream, recounted in Matthew 2:13-23, telling him and his young family to flee Herod and Judea.
The painting has changed hands repeatedly over the centuries being possessed by Dukes, Archdukes, Marquess, thieves, and other rich and powerful people. Below is a compilation of known owners of the painting through the years:
- Possibly the first owner was Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, 1508? Unverified.
- Purchased by a Venetian merchant, Bartolomeo della Nave at an unknown date. Sold 1638
- Purchased by James Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton in 1638
- Purchased by Leopold Wilhelm, Archduke of Austria in 1649
- Acquired by Hugh Andrew Johnston Munro of Novar in 1851
- Acquired by John Thynne, Marquess of Bath in 1878
- Stolen from Alexander Thynn, Marquess of Bath in 1995
- Recovered for Alexander Thynn, Marquess of Bath in 2002. The painting was found at a bus stop in south-west London.
- Sold by Ceawlin Thynn at Christie’s to an unknown buyer on 2 July 2024 for 17,560,000 pounds or about 22.17 million dollars.
Source: Christie’s June 2024. Artnet.com. The Art Newspaper. Graphic: Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Titian, 1508, Public Domain.
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