Who painted The Nativity?

The Nativity was painted by Cusco school in 1750.

Where can I see The Nativity?

The Nativity is held by Brooklyn Museum.

Artwork

The Nativity

The Nativity is an oil painting by Cusco school. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750, this oil on canvas belongs to the Cusco school of painting, a colonial Peruvian tradition that blended European iconography with local artistic sensibilities. The work is presently part of the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, where it is displayed as an example of religious art from the Andes.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the infant Jesus, swaddled in white cloth and lying on a modest wooden bench. Flanking the child are a woman in a pink garment and a kneeling man in a dark robe, both captured in prayerful poses. Above them, a small angel hovers, bearing a banner, underscoring the scene’s devotional intent.

Technique & Style

The painting employs the rich, saturated palette characteristic of the Cusco school, with warm golden tones that suffuse the background and subtle cloud formations that suggest depth. Figures are rendered with gentle modeling and a calm, balanced arrangement, inviting quiet contemplation rather than dramatic narrative.

History & Provenance

Originating in the mid‑18th century colonial Andes, the work eventually entered the United States art market and was acquired by the Brooklyn Museum. Its presence in a major American institution reflects the broader interest in Andean colonial art that grew during the twentieth century.