Lorenzo Maitani and Associates, The Flight into Egypt

First half of the 14th century
Marble relief
Detail from the west façade, Orvieto Cathedral

The image includes the usual three figures and the ass. Joseph's staff is represented by a small sceptre-like object. Mary holds a bit of fruit from the palm tree on the left, an allusion to the miracle recounted in chapter 20 of The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. The little dragon in the lower right corner alludes another miracle, from chapter 18: Along the way dragons appeared and frightened the children traveling with Joseph and Mary, but when they saw Jesus they bowed down to adore him.

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Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.