The Shrine Church of
Our Lady of the Rockies
Flight into Egypt
Giotto
Series of frescoes by Giotto (1266–1337) in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua follow the life of Christ. In this image, Mary is clearly the dominant figure. Her strength as she holds Jesus on her lap is immediately conveyed. Giotto uses monumental rock forms to direct the viewer’s attention to the Madonna and Child. Joseph is deemphasized on the right side of the composition: he turns away in conversation with a member of the entourage while the guiding angel looks directly at Mary.
Meditation: MATTHEW 2:13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."