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The Christmas story has inspired some of the most affectionate, gentle and intimate images in the history of Western art. They bring to life the story of Christ's birth, 'the Nativity', first told of in the New Testament gospels of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke.
- The Census at Bethlehem – Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Pieter Bruegel is one of the most celebrated members of a movement that’s commonly referred to as the Flemish Renaissance.
- The Sistine Madonna – Raphael. Raphael is remembered as one of the most talented artists from the Italian Renaissance. He was known as a prolific painter, as well as a gifted and skilled architect who created a number of impressive paintings related to the Christian religion.
- Snow at Argenteuil – Claude Monet. Claude Monet is remembered as the father of the Impressionist movement, which took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- The Mystical Nativity – Sandro Botticelli. It was common for many artists during the Renaissance to depict earthly scenes along with heavenly beings in the same work.
- Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence – Caravaggio. Caravaggio is one of the most celebrated artists from the Baroque era which took place in the 17th century across Europe.
- Portinari Altarpiece – Hugo van der Goes. Dutch painter Hugo van der Goes was famous for his ability to portray religious scenes from the Bible. Many of his most prominent paintings have been placed at the altarpiece of different churches throughout Europe since the 15th century.
- The Mystical Nativity – Sandro Botticelli. Sandro Botticelli is one of the more highly-revered artists from the early Italian Renaissance period. Unlike some of the more well-known artists from this era, Botticelli was not very popular during his lifetime, or for a few centuries afterward.
- The Adoration of the Kings – Jan Gossaert. Jan Gossaert was one of the first artists of Dutch nationality to have traveled to Italy during the early Renaissance period and become part of the overall movement itself.
- “Nativity” by Giotto (1303-05) Considered the first in a line of great artists who contributed to the Renaissance, Giotto di Bondone, referred to simply as Giotto, was an Italian painter and architect from Florence in the late Middle Ages.
- “The Wilton Diptych” unknown artist (c 1395-99) “The Wilton Diptych,” an outstanding example of the International Gothic style, was painted for King Richard II of England (seen kneeling before Mary and the Infant Jesus).
- “The Annunciation” by Fra Angelico (1438-45) “The Annunciation” is an Early Renaissance fresco by Fra Angelico. This version of the Annunciation is important in that it transitions away from a typical Gothic Annunciation painting which contained the archangel Gabriel visiting Mary indoors, with Mary enthroned.
- “Nativity at Night” by Geertgen tot Sint Jans (c 1490) Geertgen tot Sint Jans (meaning ‘little Gerard of Saint John’) was an Early Netherlandish painter who died at the young age of 28.
Dec 20, 2021 · Christmas, or the day celebrating the birth of Jesus, has been immortalized by many famous works of art depicting the Nativity, among which are noteworthy those made by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Giotto, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, El Greco and Caravaggio.
Nov 14, 2023 · Explore the charm and significance of Christmas paintings, from Renaissance to Norman Rockwell's iconic works of holiday art.
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The artistic depictions of the Nativity or birth of Jesus, celebrated at Christmas, are based on the narratives in the Bible, in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and further elaborated by written, oral and artistic tradition.
