The Nativity

By Antoniazzo Romano, 1480s
JPG • 3909 × 1710 PX • 2.4 MB
Curatorial Notes

Painted around 1482, this work depicts the birth of Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph kneeling in adoration before the Christ Child. In the background, two angels appear above the grotto, while other episodes related to the Nativity unfold on either side: on the left, an angel announces Christ's birth to a shepherd, as described in the Gospel of Saint Luke (Lk 2:8–14); on the right, another shepherd plays a musical instrument beside his flock. Originally, the painting formed part of the predella, the lower section of an altarpiece composed of several religious scenes. The landscape, with its mountains and medieval buildings, was inspired by the Italian region of Lazio, where Rome is located. The painting also reveals the influence of Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio, who were working on the decoration of the Sistine Chapel around 1482, when Antoniazzo Romano created this composition.

Artwork Identification

Title The Nativity
Title (PT) A Natividade
Title (ES) La Natividad
Artist Antoniazzo Romano
Artist Bio Antoniazzo Romano, the name by which Antonio di Benedetto Aquilio (c. 1435–1440 to 1508) became known, was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Rome. Regarded as one of the leading Roman artists of the 15th century, he specialized in altarpieces, frescoes, and images of the Virgin Mary, often inspired by Byzantine icons. His paintings combine medieval religious traditions with Renaissance influences from artists such as Perugino, Melozzo da Forlì, and Domenico Ghirlandaio. In 1478, he became head of the guild of painters and illuminators in Rome.
Date 1480s
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta