id:			159876
accession number:	1997.178.a
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1997.178.a
updated:		2023-03-15 15:46:28.498000

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt (recto), c. 1879–80. Luc-Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920). Gray and graphite wash, with scraping and traces of black chalk; sheet: 14.5 x 25.5 cm (5 11/16 x 10 1/16 in.); secondary support: 27.9 x 39 cm (11 x 15 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1997.178.a

title:				The Rest on the Flight into Egypt (recto)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1879–80
creation date earliest:		1879
creation date latest:		1880
current location:		
creditline:			John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	France, 19th century
technique:	gray and graphite wash, with scraping and traces of black chalk
department:	Drawings
collection:	DR - French
type:		Drawing
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

* Luc-Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920)  - artist

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measurements: Sheet: 14.5 x 25.5 cm (5 11/16 x 10 1/16 in.); Secondary Support: 27.9 x 39 cm (11 x 15 3/8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:

	description:	cream(1) wove paper, perimeter mounted with Japanese paper strips to cream(2) wove paper
	watermarks:	

inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	Galerie David Jones, Paris
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	Galerie David Jones, Paris
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact:
It is possible that this drawing served as a model for a print, but the best-known printed reproduction of the painting differs from the sheet in several minor details.

digital description:
This drawing relates to Luc-Olivier Merson's <em>Rest on the Flight into Egypt,</em> among the most popular paintings exhibited at the 1879 Paris Salon. This dream-like, highly unusual image from the familiar bible story shows Mary and Christ resting peacefully in the arms of a Sphinx, while Joseph sleeps near their dwindling fire. In the wake of its extraordinary success, Merson made several painted replicas of the work. Here, the composition is identical, but reversed, suggesting that it may have been an alternative version of the canvas.

wall description:

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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1997.178.a/1997.178.a_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1997.178.a/1997.178.a_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1997.178.a/1997.178.a_full.tif