Flight to Egypt on Wheels
USA
Jil Gurule
Setting – Marjorie Yefchak

This work by artist Jil Gurule shows an endearing rendering of the flight into Egypt. The theme is well-known in Christmas tradition and has been depicted in varied fashion: Mary and Child on the donkey, Joseph steering the animal, and the guardian angel leading the way. Sometimes the Holy Family is resting in the shadow of a palm tree, or is confronted with a pack of wild and exotic animals symbolizing evil ready to attack the future Savior. But there exist also more domestic scenes: Mary doing laundry, needlepoint or cooking. Here the artist resorted to a flight to Egypt on wheels. The cart looks much like the crossing of a Sicilian donkey-cart and the wagons of settlers going west. The figures are luminous with sunny beauty.