Lot 1200 R α

The painting Rest on the Flight into Egypt with the Archangel Raphael and Tobias by Bonifazio de’ Pitati, also known as Bonifazio Veronese, is an early copy after the original preserved in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan. It presents a richly narrative scene depicting the Holy Family resting during their flight into Egypt – a subject that enjoyed great popularity in Venetian painting of the 16th century.
At the center of the composition sits the Virgin Mary. Contrary to traditional iconography, she is not holding the Christ Child on her lap, but instead hands him over to Joseph, seated at her right, who tenderly cradles the infant in his arms. Mary gently touches the child’s leg, adding an intimate gesture. Between Mary and Joseph stands the young John the Baptist, walking toward Joseph and the Christ Child, while turning his head toward the right side of the image – a gesture that also guides the viewer’s gaze.
This shift in focus leads to the right half of the painting, where the young Tobias, accompanied by the Archangel Raphael, approaches the Holy Family. Tobias carries the symbolic fish from the biblical narrative, while Raphael, his wings spread wide, gazes toward Mary. The entire scene unfolds in a calm, Arcadian landscape characterized by gentle hills, a soft sky, and a distant horizon – typical of Bonifazio’s pictorial language, which harmoniously blends devotion, storytelling, and natural setting.
Bonifazio de’ Pitati and his workshop returned to this subject several times. One of the most famous versions is housed in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice (ca. 1540). Other variants, attributed to Bonifazio himself or his studio, are found in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and in international private collections. The frequent repetition of this theme reflects its widespread appeal in 16th-century Venice. Several other Venetian artists also explored this subject, most notably Titian, whose influence on Bonifazio is clearly visible, and Lorenzo Lotto, who imbued the theme with a particularly intimate, familial atmosphere.
The inclusion of Tobias and Raphael adds a typological dimension to the scene of the flight into Egypt. The apocryphal Book of Tobit tells the story of young Tobias, who is guided by the Archangel Raphael on a journey to heal his blind father. In Venetian art, this Old Testament narrative was often interpreted allegorically – as a foreshadowing of the Christian story of salvation and as a symbol of divine protection and guidance. In a city like Venice, shaped by travel, trade, and the uncertainties of the sea, such themes held special relevance.