Today’s V. Note is a collection of nativity scenes, ordered starting in the present day and walking back in time. The last images, the earliest depictions, are from 4th Century in Rome and Southern Gaul. I’ve added a few works, but most of this collection can be found on Wikipedia and The Guardian.
Modern stained glass from the Taufkapelle, Koblenz-ArenbergAdolf Hölzel, 1912Paul Gauguin, 1896, with a Tahitian setting.The Flight by Adrian Ludwig Richter, 1873 Romantic Rest on the Flight by Philipp Otto Runge, 1806Presepe by Francesco Landonio around 1750 Painted on paper sheets glued on wood panelsAdoration of the Shepherds, Charles Le Brun 1689Folk painting, 17th century, by Mikael Toppelius Georges de La Tour 1644Adoration of the Magi, Rubens, 1634 Gerard van Honthorst – Adoration of the Shepherds (1622)Rest on the Flight to Egypt Orazio Gentileschi 1620El Greco, Baroque Adoration of the Shepherds lit by the Christ Child, 1634The Doni Tondo represents the Holy Family resting on the way to Egypt; Michelangelo. 1586The Nativity, Federico Barrocci, 1597The Census at Bethlehem, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1566
It is one of the first paintings in western art to feature a significant snow landscape and was painted in the aftermath of the winter of 1565, which was one of the harshest winters on record. I hadn’t realized it was a nativity painting until now.
Detail of Mary and JosephJacopo Bassano, The Adoration of the Magi. Late 1560s.
I have three comments, none of them helpful. First, where does one get a suit like that. Second, is it too much trouble to have the old man’s head (brown, lower center) attach to his body? Third, the baby is not holding my attention nearly as much as those buttocks. Is it just me? I admire the Magi.
Dirck Barendsz, 1565Pieter Bruegel 1564
Bruegel presents the best outfits, the worst hair.
Adoration of the Shepherds, Bronzino 1540
Covering up the MMA wrestling shoulder with my fingers, I can see this is actually quite a lovely painting.
Ellhofen Altarpiece, Germany (1)Ellhofen Altarpiece, Germany (2)Albrecht Altdorfer, the Adoration of the Magi. 1530Lorenzo Lotto, 1523
Painted at a time when children were seen as miniature adults. Perhaps the small head size was in compassion for Mary’s uterus.
Giorgione, Nativity, 1507 Giorgione, Adoration of the Magi, 1505The Adoration of the Shepherds, Giorgione 1500SpišskéPodhradie_Narodenie(Slovakia 1490) Adoration of the Magi, Domenico Ghirlandaio 1487Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1483-5Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci. 1481 – never completedBotticelli; his patrons, the Medici family, are depicted as the Magi. 1476
That’s quite a move, depicting your own family members at the birthday party for the son of God. Even better, the figure on the right is Botticelli’s self portrait. A handsome cut, if he does say so himself. The baby Jesus is in there too, but I’ve spent quite a while looking at this painting and haven’t really noticed.
Modesty aside, Sandro Botticelli (self portrait) detail from aboveMary and Joseph on the Way to Bethlehem (Portinari Altarpiece) Hugo van der Goes, 1475Nativity, Piero della Francesca 1470-5The Magi before Herod, French 15th-century stained glass Nativity at Night by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1490, after a composition by Hugo van der Goes of 1470The Procession of the Magi, Benozzo Gozzoli, 1459Adoration of the Shepherds, Mantegna 1450-1This Nativity by Rogier van der Weyden, part of the Bladelin Altarpiece 1450Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi 1445
…A tag team tondo?
The Annunciation, Fra Angelico 1445
Most women don’t learn that they’re pregnant from an angel. They learn the news from a test strip that they just peed on. I wonder if anyone has ever thought of making test strips in the shape of angels. Perhaps the part that you pee on shouldn’t be the same part that is shaped like an angel.
See how the perspective warps the bottom ellipse of the left column? It’s outside the cone of vision.
Sassetta, The Journey of the Magi, 1432-1436 German miniature 1420
What the heck is that weird cartoon thing in the lower left?!?
Andrey Rublev, 1405, in the Moscow KremlinIn this 1403 panel by Conrad von Soest Saint Joseph cooks a meal as Mary cares for Jesus.Presentation at the Temple and Flight, with legends of the idol and spring, Melchior Broederlam, Burgundy, 1400 14th-century French ivory triptych showing the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity with, unusually, Joseph holding the baby, while Mary sleeps.
Joseph does child care! A rare and valuable piece indeed.
Taddeo Gaddi Annunciation to the Shepherds. Fresco, 1330
This fresco by Gaddi is said to be the first large night scene ever painted.
Mary in a bed, attended by a midwifeByzantine fresco from Mistra, Greece, mid-14th century Master of Vyšší Brod, a Bohemian master, 1350. The influence of Italian Byzantine painting was strong in the court of Charles IV.Bernardo Daddi was influenced by the paintings of Giotto. 1338Early English Missal 1310-1320Nativity, Giotto 1303-6Nativity from Duccio’s Maestá, 13th century, a compromise shed-within-a-cave Medieval mosaics of Santa Maria in Trastevere, RomeMosaic in Byzantine style, Palermo, 1150 Modern Romanian icon, with very similar iconography to Rublev, but a few Western elements, like the kneeling Virgin. Romanesque capital from Saint-Pierre, Chauvigny, 12th century. Nativity and Annunciation to the Shepherds from the Bamberg Apocalypse 1000–20, Ottonian Scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, triptych. Constantinople, late 10th century, ivory. Musée du Louvre The earliest Western Madonna and Child, from the Book of KellsSant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, the Magi presenting their gifts (mosaic detail), late 6th century4th-century sarcophagus, Milan; one of the earliest Nativity images
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Nativity Scenes
Today’s V. Note is a collection of nativity scenes, ordered starting in the present day and walking back in time. The last images, the earliest depictions, are from 4th Century in Rome and Southern Gaul. I’ve added a few works, but most of this collection can be found on Wikipedia and The Guardian.
Painted on paper sheets glued on wood panels
It is one of the first paintings in western art to feature a significant snow landscape and was painted in the aftermath of the winter of 1565, which was one of the harshest winters on record. I hadn’t realized it was a nativity painting until now.
I have three comments, none of them helpful. First, where does one get a suit like that. Second, is it too much trouble to have the old man’s head (brown, lower center) attach to his body? Third, the baby is not holding my attention nearly as much as those buttocks. Is it just me? I admire the Magi.
Bruegel presents the best outfits, the worst hair.
Covering up the MMA wrestling shoulder with my fingers, I can see this is actually quite a lovely painting.
Painted at a time when children were seen as miniature adults. Perhaps the small head size was in compassion for Mary’s uterus.
That’s quite a move, depicting your own family members at the birthday party for the son of God. Even better, the figure on the right is Botticelli’s self portrait. A handsome cut, if he does say so himself. The baby Jesus is in there too, but I’ve spent quite a while looking at this painting and haven’t really noticed.
…A tag team tondo?
Most women don’t learn that they’re pregnant from an angel. They learn the news from a test strip that they just peed on. I wonder if anyone has ever thought of making test strips in the shape of angels. Perhaps the part that you pee on shouldn’t be the same part that is shaped like an angel.
See how the perspective warps the bottom ellipse of the left column? It’s outside the cone of vision.
What the heck is that weird cartoon thing in the lower left?!?
Joseph does child care! A rare and valuable piece indeed.
This fresco by Gaddi is said to be the first large night scene ever painted.
Merry Christmas!
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