Artwork
The Birth of Christ
The Birth of Christ is a paint painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francesco di Girolamo da Santacroce. It dates from 1565 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Francesco di Girolamo da Santacroce’s *Birth of Christ* (1565) is an oil painting that depicts the traditional nativity scene. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and exemplifies mid‑sixteenth‑century religious art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the infant Jesus lying in a manger, attended by a kneeling Mary and Joseph. Shepherds and angels gather around the cradle, while celestial beings hover above, bearing a banner that underscores the event’s divine significance.
Technique & Style
Santacroce employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep, saturated hues with strong shadows to model forms and suggest three‑dimensional space. The painter’s handling of light creates a tactile sense of volume, especially in the figures’ drapery and the stable’s interior.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in 1565, the painting has remained in European collections, ultimately entering the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings, where it is displayed among other works of the Italian Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco di Girolamo da Santacroce
Francesco di Girolamo da Santacroce (1516–1584) was an artist.
