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The Nativity

Bartolomeo Biscaino

1655

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

The Nativity is a 1655 ink by Bartolomeo Biscaino, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Bartolomeo Biscaino
When & what style?: 1655 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a night scene with a tired-looking man and a woman kneeling beside a baby in a manger. Above them, angels with wings float in the sky, pointing and looking down. The background has dark clouds and a few trees, while the ground is rough and uneven. The artist used sharp lines and shading to create drama and movement, especially in the angels’ flowing robes and the swirling clouds. This style was common in the Baroque period. Next, look up Baroque to see how this dramatic style changed art.