The Holy Family is one of the most popular subjects in Western art. Numerous masters such as Raphael, El Greco, Rubens and others have interpreted the subject repeatedly. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke mention certain episodes that are part of Christ’s nativity such as Adoration of the Shepherds, Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt. These events became part of devotional practices or meditations around the Holy Family which aided every Christian to lead a pious life. Prayers centered on these events became popular around the late Middle Ages as did the iconography of the Holy Family. Numerous theologians and spiritual authors such as the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits regarded the Holy Family as the earthly reflection of the heavenly Holy Trinity.
In the Viceroyalty of Peru, the Flight into Egypt was a particularly prolific subject, in part attributed to the devotion of Saint Joseph, who was promoted widely in the region as an exemplary man and head of household. In the present painting, Joseph takes the reigns of the donkey and leads mother and child to safety, while an angel follows closely behind, protecting them from the dangers from which they fled in haste. Here, the Virgin Mary and Christ Child are of primary importance, denoted both by their prominent placement and the extravagantly-decorated garments that adorn the Virgin. In keeping with the Cuzco school tradition of embellishing figures in gold detailing, here the artist decorated the garments with delicate gold floral patterns on their robes, which are echoed in the natural bounty of the landscape in the foreground.