A detailed view of the Flight into Egypt from the Retable of Champmol, showcasing the refined oil technique and International Gothic style of Melchior Broederlam.

This detail originates from the right wing of the Retable of Champmol, a commission for Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Melchior Broederlam, a Flemish painter active in the late fourteenth century, executed this work during a period when Northern European art began to integrate naturalistic observation with the decorative conventions of the International Gothic style.

The scene depicts the Holy Family during their journey to Egypt. The Virgin Mary, draped in a deep blue mantle, sits upon a donkey while cradling the infant Christ. Beside her, Saint Joseph walks, carrying a staff and a bundle of supplies. The figures are set against a rocky, uneven terrain that suggests a mountainous path. Broederlam employs a specific approach to space, where the figures appear slightly large in proportion to the surrounding trees and crags. This creates a sense of compressed depth, characteristic of the period before the full adoption of linear perspective.

The colour palette is notable for its clarity and contrast. The deep blue of the Virgin's robes provides a visual anchor, balanced by the bright red of Joseph's tunic and the muted earth tones of the landscape. The painting demonstrates a transition in technique, as Broederlam utilised oil glazes to achieve a level of luminosity and detail that tempera could not easily replicate. The foliage and rock formations are rendered with careful attention to texture, reflecting the artist's interest in the physical world. This work remains a primary example of the transition from the medieval tradition toward the realism that would define the early Netherlandish school.