The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Joseph was warned in a dream that King Herod was searching for the Christ Child and so took Mary and the infant to Egypt for safety. Their rest during the journey is a frequently depicted incident which is not actually described in the Bible. Joseph lies asleep in the background to the left of the Virgin and Child.

This painting appears to have been commissioned by van de Werff's patron, the Elector Palatine, Johann Wilhelm, who had created him a knight (chevalier) in 1703.