The Holy Family Resting During the Flight into Egypt
The Holy Family is depicted resting during their flight into Egypt. Under a tree, Mary sits, nursing the Child. Beside her, Saint Joseph rests and calms a braying donkey. However, the guardian of the Holy Family is saddened, recalling the reason for their flight from Bethlehem.
Michael Willmann depicted the bloody massacre in the upper left corner of the fresco—in the background, Herod’s soldiers are shown slaughtering innocent children, with Bolków Castle visible in the distance.
Michael Willmann, known as the “Silesian Rembrandt,” created over 50 wall polychromies within three years, adorning the interior of the fraternity church.
The abundance of these depictions in one place makes the Krzeszów church the largest collection of frescoes in Northern Europe, and the seat of the Brotherhood of Saint Joseph is popularly called the “Silesian Sistine Chapel.”
Gigapixels