Artwork
The Nativity
The Nativity is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francisco Antolínez. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Created in 1601, this oil painting presents a nocturnal stable where a woman cradles an infant wrapped in white cloth.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Nativity of Jesus, centered on the Christ Child in a manger surrounded by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.
The painting depicts the Nativity of Jesus, centered on the Christ Child in a manger surrounded by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. Basketry appears in the lower foreground, likely alluding to the woven cradle that traditionally holds the infant. The composition conforms to Counter-Reformation norms, emphasizing the humanity of Christ and the piety of his earthly parents within a humble, nocturnal setting.
Technique & Style
Created in 1601 by Francisco Antolínez, this religious painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 45 cm in height and 73 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the Nativity of Jesus, prominently featuring the Christ Child alongside elements of basketry.
The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, having previously been associated with the Museo de la Trinidad.
History & Provenance
The Nativity by Francisco Antolínez is dated 1601, making the early 17th century its period of execution.
The work entered the Museo del Prado through the aggregation of the Museo de la Trinidad collection, as recorded in the Prado’s holdings. Its dimensions are 45 cm in height and 73 cm in width.
The Nativity by Francisco Antolínez is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Historically, the work was also associated with the Museo de la Trinidad before its transfer to the Prado. The painting's inventory records link it to the Prado's holdings, where it remains part of the permanent religious art collection.
No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is provided in the available records. The work is documented as an oil on canvas painting created in 1601, depicting the Nativity of Jesus with dimensions of 45 cm in height and 73 cm in width.
Context
Francisco Antolínez's 1601 oil painting The Nativity depicts the Nativity of Jesus and is housed in the Museo del Prado. The work features basketry and a Christ Child within its religious composition. Scholarship situates the painting within Antolínez's broader output, highlighting its significance in the development of Spanish religious art around the turn of the 17th century.
Overview
Created in 1601, this oil painting presents a nocturnal stable where a woman cradles an infant wrapped in white cloth. The composition is illuminated by a soft golden glow descending from above, while surrounding figures kneel or stand in quiet observation. The work resides in the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco Antolínez de Sarabia (1645–1700) was a historical and landscape painter who studied in the school of Murillo, whose style and manner of colouring he followed.
