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The Birth of the Virgin

Ventura Salimbeni

1608

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

The Birth of the Virgin is a 1608 ink by Ventura Salimbeni, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ventura Salimbeni
When & what style?: 1608 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a crowded scene of figures in warm browns and soft whites. At the bottom, a woman lies on a bed holding a baby, while others kneel or stand around her. Above them, a swirl of angels and light fills the sky, their arms outstretched in a chaotic, heavenly dance. The artist used thin lines and washes of color to create movement, almost like a sketch that’s been lightly colored in. The figures look both real and dreamlike, blending into the warm background. Next, look up gouache to see how this technique blends paint and water for a soft, matte finish.