The Rest on the Flight into Egypt with St. John the Baptist  1509

The Virgin Mary and Joseph convey a sense of calm as they rest on a golden late summer afternoon, watching as the Christ Child grasps the young John the Baptist's reed cross. Fra Bartolommeo evokes Christ's Passion in a variety of ways in this painting. The palm tree on the left suggests the palm fronds that would pave Christ's final entry into Jerusalem, while the pomegra...