1) 11864 – Dario Querci – Rest on the Flight into Egypt (San Giorgio)
1864 – Dario Querci – Rest during the flight into Egypt
In 1864, through the good offices of Baron Corrado Arezzo, the painter Dario Querci from Messina was commissioned to create the canvas depicting the 'Rest during the flight into Egypt' (oil on canvas, 320 by 212 centimetres).
The work, created in Rome for the price of 130 onze, sees Mary sitting on the steps of an Egyptian temple in the center with the sleeping child in her arms. On the right, St. Joseph standing looks towards the two.
Behind Saint Joseph there are a palm tree, a banana tree and a donkey; at the bottom, introduced by a sphinx, the Egyptian temple painted with polychrome decorative motifs and decorated with hieroglyphics. In the foreground, a travel bag.
Mary wears a white dress, a blue cloak and a white handkerchief on her head; Saint Joseph a purplish blue robe and a yellow cloak; the child a white robe. A ray of light among the clouds illuminates the Holy Family.
The painting was initially exhibited in Rome and subsequently at the Promotrice in Palermo in 1864 before arriving in Ragusa to be placed in the third altar of the right nave.
