How the great artists of the past portrayed the Nativity of Christ: Botticelli, Barrocchi, etc

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

As stated in the Gospels, Christ's life on earth began with an extraordinary birth and ended with a terrible death, followed by a resurrection. There are many episodes between these two poles, including miracles, dialogues and sermons containing the main teachings of Christianity. Not surprisingly, one of the world's most beloved stories - the story of the birth of Jesus - has been the subject of many artists for centuries. How did famous painters portray the Nativity of Christ?

History of the image of the Nativity of Christ

The Christian art of painting views Christmas in two iconographic types: 1. The first arises from the story of Matthew, in which the Magi are sent to the birthplace of the star in Bethlehem. Christian typology considers the star and the visit of the Magi to be the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy: "A star will rise from Jacob, and the scepter will rise from Israel." The earliest known image of the Nativity is the painting of the II-III century in the Catacombs of Priscilla. She depicts the prophet pointing to the star, while Mary sits on the right with the Christ child on her knees. But by the IV century in the images of the Nativity there were wise men who visit the child. Mary usually holds Jesus on her knees while she sits on the throne.

2. Another paleochristian type follows Luke, not Matthew. There are no Magi, the child is in the manger, and next to the manger there is usually a shepherd and / or the sitting Virgin Mary. In this example, the gesture of the shepherd means contemplation. In others, he raises his hand to greet the Christ Child. In the 6th century, details appear that will remain in the iconography of the Nativity of Christ for many centuries. For example, the bull and the donkey (they are still present in modern representations of the Nativity). Isaiah 1: 3: "The ox knows its master, and the donkey knows its master's bed: but Israel did not know me, and my people did not understand," and from Habakkuk 3: 2: "You appeared between two animals."

The two iconographic types are in no way mutually exclusive. For centuries, both types will be used together or separately. In the East, it is customary to depict a mother and a child as parallel recumbent figures with some distance between them: a bull and a donkey at the top of the image, and midwives washing the child at the bottom. Western representations of the Nativity also sometimes include parallel figures, and many form a scene right in the cave.

Famous paintings with the plot of Christmas

One of the oldest known Christmas-themed paintings is an ancient faded fresco in the Roman catacombs of Saint Sebastiano. The image retains the Latin words "The Word became flesh."

Philippe de Champagne "The Dream of Saint Joseph"

In the Gospel of Matthew, Mary promises to marry Joseph. God sends an angel to Joseph in a dream to explain the divine conception and ask him to name the baby Jesus. The French painter Champagne is one of those rare artists who depicted the story of Joseph and this angelic intervention. It's amazing how the angel speaks without words, explaining the secret exclusively in sign language.

Hugo van der Goes "Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem"

In this painting, Mary and Joseph walk through a rocky landscape. She just got off the donkey, perhaps afraid to go down such a dangerous slope. Gray-haired and tired Joseph helps her with all his loving kindness. Mary is pregnant with Christ. Father Jesus is usually portrayed as powerless, but not here. As husband and father-to-be, he expresses Mary's immense concern to protect his family from adversity and danger.

"Adoration of the Magi" by Andrea Mantegna and Ortolano

Pictures of Christmas, the first night of Christ's life on earth, as a rule, emphasize the fragility of the baby and the surprise experienced by those who first witnessed his coming. The child is usually in the center, and the Virgo is depicted in gentle contemplation. Depictions of this plot in the 14th century usually include elements inherited from the Byzantine tradition, such as a box crib for an infant and a cave shelter for the holy family. Later images radically change the environment and character of the shepherds.

Andrea Mantegna portrays the Christ Child lying in the folds of his mother's clothes and emphasizes the poverty and humility of the shepherds. They approach the stage in torn clothes, bare feet and an expression of awe. The Ferrara artist Ortolano depicted this scene in a completely different way: in a majestic classical structure with an idyllic landscape, the shepherds kneel before Jesus.

Giovanni di Paolo "Adoration of the Magi" and "Nativity of Christ"

In a beautiful panel by Giovanni di Paolo, fashionable costumes of the Magi, trimmed with fur and gold, contrast with the simple and modest attire of Mary and Joseph. Still, the reverence of the kings for the holy family is obvious. Here is the young king shaking hands with Joseph, and the older one kneels down to kiss the foot of the Christ Child. At the same time, the artist depicted the very first scene of the Nativity - the Nativity of Christ itself. In this picture, the main focus of the viewer's perception is, of course, the Star of Bethlehem.

Sandro Botticelli "The Birth of Christ"

This work by Botticelli is often called "Mystical Christmas". Mary, the bull and the donkey watch the Baby while Joseph sleeps. The three men kneeling to the left of the stable are the Magi. They can be recognized by their long outfits. On the right kneeling are shepherds in simpler and more modest clothes.

All the angels carry olive branches, and the men are crowned with an olive wreath - a symbol of peace. Above the stable are clear skies that allow the golden light of paradise to illuminate the stage. Angels and other heroes celebrate the birth of the newborn Jesus. In the corners in the foreground, demons can be seen fleeing to the underworld. Many angels carry banners with texts such as Gloria in excelsis deo (Glory to God in Heaven) or texts praising Mary. Botticelli's mysticism is the opposite of naturalism, which was practiced by many other artists at the time. The word "mysticism" refers to an idealized object that is portrayed more beautifully than is possible in reality.

Federico Barrocci "Christmas"

Of the many options for images of scenes of Christmas, this picture is perhaps the most delicate. Mary humbly kneels before the Infant Jesus, she is also full of love for her newborn child. The artist gave his heroine a magnificent radiance and focused the audience's attention on her gaze. Mother and child look into each other's eyes, the whole composition emphasizes their mutual connection and love. The art of Barrocci, until recently one of the most underrated Italian masters, was especially popular with women (not surprising given the skill of this nativity scene, in which a radiant child illuminates Mary's loving face).

All these images of the Nativity of Jesus from different centuries testify to the fact that people have always strived for faith. They wanted to learn the faith, go to it, spread and reflect on their magnificent canvases.