Blas de Prado (Camarena, Toledo, 1545 - Madrid, 1599)

Blas de Prado (Camarena, Toledo, 1545 - Madrid, 1599)
 
"The return of the Holy Family from Egypt with the Baptist" 
Oil on panel. 54 x 39 cm. 
As Professor Isabel Mateo explains, the scene takes place in a clear cloudscape in which the Holy Family appears, resting, while the adolescent John the Baptist offers the Christ Child a bowl of milk soup with pieces of bread. The figure of the Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms is at the centre of the composition. 

Blas de Prado was one of the most important Spanish painters of his time. Although the paintings by him that are preserved are few, the praise of his contemporaries and the prestige referred to in texts bear witness to this being the case.  
Through the paintings known to be by him, we can see a knowledge of contemporary Italian art in his training, especially the Roman School which can be seen in the models and composition as well as a certain interest in Venetian colour, akin to that of the painters at El Escorial. He was also a pioneer in genre painting, being Sánchez Cotán’s master.

Blas de Prado’s Virgin of Villegas, which is kept in the Prado, and the Miracle of Saint Leocadia in the Church of Santa María in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, are comparable to our painting. 
In a carved and gilded period wooden frame.  
On the back is a label from the Junta de Incautación, Protección y Salvamento del Tesoro Artístico (Board of Seizure, Protection and Salvage of Artistic Treasure) which notes the provenance of the painting as: Agrupación S. M. 
The painting comes with a certificate by Professor Isabel Mateo.