Flight into Egypt

Author: Ambrósio Coelho (?) and to Manuel Gomes de Andrade (?) (attributed to)

Date: 18^th century, 1^st half

Material: Polychromed gesso on wood

Dimensions (cm): H 78 x L +/- 106

Provenance: Guimarães, church of the Convento de Santa Clara

Inventory No.: MAS E 13 (5)

Sculpture representing the biblical passage of the Flight into Egypt: warned by an angel of Herod’s persecution, Joseph takes his family to Egypt where he remains until the death of the king. Saint Joseph, with a rope, pulls the donkey that carries Mary with Jesus on her lap. Their clothes are executed in gesso on wood decorated with flowers and foliage and they both have wide-brimmed hats.

This magnificent Flight into Egypt was always considered a unique piece in Portuguese sculpture.

In 1924, when the Comissão Central de Execução da Lei de Separação decided to sell the assets of the Convento de Santa Clara of Guimarães in a public auction, the State decided to keep some of the pieces. A group of pieces remained in the keeping of Sociedade Martins Sarmento until the creation of the Museu de Alberto Sampaio, where they entered in 1934 (Flight into Egypt, Holy Family and Baptism of Christ) and in 1937 (six canvases).