Who painted The Nativity?

The Nativity was painted by Giorgio Ghisi in 1553.

Where can I see The Nativity?

The Nativity is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Nativity?

The Nativity is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Nativity

Giorgio Ghisi , 1553

The Nativity is a print by the Renaissance artist Giorgio Ghisi. It dates from 1553 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a quiet night scene with Mary kneeling by baby Jesus in a manger. Joseph stands behind her, two shepherds peer in. The figures glow against dark shadows.

This print copies a painter’s work but uses fine lines to show light and depth. Ghisi made it while working in Antwerp with Hieronymus Cock, a big print publisher.

Want to see more like this? Look up Giorgio Ghisi (Italian, 1520–1582).

Overview

The Nativity is a print by Giorgio Ghisi, created during his time in Antwerp, reproducing a painting by Agnolo Bronzino. The work depicts a serene nocturnal scene of the Nativity, with Mary, Joseph, and two shepherds surrounding the infant Jesus in a manger, set against a backdrop of deep shadows with figures illuminated to convey light and depth.

Subject & Meaning

The print's inscriptions highlight Mary's dual experience of great joy and inevitable sorrow as the mother of Jesus, foreshadowing his life and death. The scene itself focuses on the quiet, intimate moment of the Nativity.

Technique & Style

Ghisi's print employs fine lines to achieve a sense of light and depth, distinguishing it from the original painting while maintaining the essence of Bronzino's composition. The use of contrasting light and dark enhances the emotional intimacy of the scene.

History & Provenance

Originally painted by Agnolo Bronzino in the late 1530s for Filippo d'Averardo Salviati of Florence, Ghisi's print was an unusual undertaking as it replicated a privately owned work. Created around 1550-1555 while Ghisi worked with Hieronymus Cock at The Four Winds in Antwerp.

Context

Produced in Antwerp, a major commercial hub, in collaboration with Cock's renowned publishing house, The Four Winds, the print reflects the cross-European artistic and commercial exchanges of the 16th century.

Legacy

As a work by Giorgio Ghisi, The Nativity print invites comparison with his broader oeuvre; for further insight into similar works, exploring Ghisi's body of art is recommended.