Artwork
Das Neugeborene
Das Neugeborene is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Baptist Lambrechts. It dates from 1705 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the infant’s vulnerability and divine origin, framed within a religious context typical of Counter-Reformation art.
The painting depicts the Nativity of Jesus, focusing on the Christ Child as the central subject.
The iconography centers on the newborn Christ, shown in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, a motif drawn from Luke 2:7. The composition emphasizes the infant’s vulnerability and divine origin, framed within a religious context typical of Counter-Reformation art. The modest setting and the child’s central placement direct attention to the theological significance of the Incarnation, underscoring the belief in Christ’s human birth as the foundation of Christian salvation.
History & Provenance
The painting Das Neugeborene was created by Jan Baptist Lambrechts in 1705. Classified as a religious work, the piece depicts the Christ Child and centers on the Nativity of Jesus. It is currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections, specifically at the Alte Pinakothek. The work measures 49.5 cm in height and 57.4 cm in width.
The painting Das Neugeborene by Jan Baptist Lambrechts is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work, which depicts the Nativity of Jesus, was created in 1705 and measures 49.5 cm in height by 57.4 cm in width.
The provided sources do not list a specific inventory number or detail any past exhibitions for this artwork.
Legacy
Das Neugeborene exerted modest influence on later religious painting through its devotional clarity and compositional balance, particularly shaping interpretations of the Christ Child motif in early 18th-century devotional art. Its presence in the Bavarian State Painting Collections has ensured continued scholarly attention to Lambrechts' role in the Munich school, though it remains overshadowed by more prominent contemporaries in mainstream art historical narratives.
The work is part of the Alte Pinakothek's permanent display, where it is cited in curatorial literature as a representative example of Bavarian religious painting circa 1705.
Overview
Created in 1705 by Flemish painter Jan Baptist Lambrechts, Das Neugeborene is an oil painting that belongs to the Rococo period. Though Lambrechts is chiefly remembered for scenes of daily life, this work turns to a devotional theme, portraying the infant Christ within an intimate interior. The canvas is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in Munich.
Technique & Style
Lambrechts employs the light, decorative palette typical of Rococo, with soft pastel tones and delicate brushwork that convey a sense of airy elegance. The spacious room, high ceiling, and left‑hand window allow natural light to filter in, highlighting textures of clothing and furnishings while reinforcing the painting’s gentle, intimate mood.
Context
While most of Lambrechts’ oeuvre consists of genre scenes depicting market stalls, taverns, and street life, Das Neugeborene reflects a broader 18th‑century trend of integrating sacred themes into secular environments. The work illustrates how Rococo artists softened theological narratives by placing them within relatable, domestic contexts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Baptist Lambrechts (baptised 28 February 1680 - after 1731) was an 18th-century Flemish painter. He is mainly known for his genre scenes of drinkers, cooks, maids, vegetable salesmen and dancing farmers.
