The artwork titled “Nativity,” attributed to “Orthodox Icons,” dates back to approximately 1450, and showcases the stylistic qualities of the Late Byzantine/Palaeologan Renaissance (circa 1261–1453) and the Cretan school of icon painting. Classified under the genre of icons, this piece belongs to the Evangelical cycle and depicts the Nativity scene, a key event in Christian theology.
The artwork features a traditional Byzantine depiction of the Nativity, centering around the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. The scene is adorned with various figures, including angels, shepherds, and animals, situated in a cavernous setting. The Virgin Mary, dressed in a rich red mantle, reclines on a blanket while the Christ child rests in a manager below her, flanked by an ox and donkey. Above the cave, angels herald the news of Christ’s birth to shepherds and other onlookers. On the left side of the scene, an angel appears to announce the joyous event to a group of shepherds, while on the right, the Magi approach bearing gifts. At the bottom left, a midwife bathes the newborn Jesus, a touch of everyday life that contrasts with the divine. The use of gold leaf highlights the heavenly and sacred nature of the event. The colors are vivid, and the figures are rendered with a sense of spiritual solemnity, adhering to the iconographic standards of the period. The detailed halos and the overall composition reflect the theological emphasis and artistic conventions of Byzantine iconography.
