Artwork
The Virgin of the Nativity
The Virgin of the Nativity is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its composition emphasizes the sacred moment of the Nativity, conveying theological meaning through the familiar symbols of mother and child in a holy context.
The painting presents the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ Child within a Nativity setting, identifying the scene as the birth of Jesus. This iconography aligns with traditional religious imagery, where Mary and the Child symbolize divine incarnation and salvation. The work, dated to the turn of the 16th century, was produced in the workshop of Filippino Lippi and is classified as religious art, reflecting its devotional purpose.
Its composition emphasizes the sacred moment of the Nativity, conveying theological meaning through the familiar symbols of mother and child in a holy context.
Technique & Style
The Virgin of the Nativity is a panel painting measuring 32.4 × 24.8 cm and dated to circa 1500, produced in the workshop of Filippino Lippi. It portrays the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child in a Nativity scene, a composition typical of devotional religious imagery. The work belongs to the religious genre and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Its formal arrangement centers the figures, employs delicate drapery modeling, and uses a restrained palette that reflects early‑16th‑century Florentine stylistic conventions.
History & Provenance
The Virgin of the Nativity is a religious painting dated to about 1500. Art historical attribution assigns the work to the workshop of Filippino Lippi rather than the master himself. The piece depicts the Nativity of Jesus, featuring the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child as its main subjects.
The panel measures 32.4 cm in height and 24.8 cm in width. Current records indicate that the painting is part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work represents an instance of early 16th-century religious art associated with Florentine workshops active during the turn of the century.
Overview
This painting depicts a female figure, identified by its title as the Virgin of the Nativity. She is shown with light hair and a serene countenance, dressed in garments of red and blue. Her hands are clasped together, and her gaze is directed downwards, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation. A muted, dark background partially reveals another figure and architectural elements, including a column.
Artist & collection
