The artwork titled “Nativity of John the Baptist” is attributed to the collective name “Orthodox Icons” and dates back to circa 1450. It belongs to the Late Byzantine/Palaeologan Renaissance art movement which spans from approximately 1261 to 1453. This icon, part of the series “Holy Days and Events of Sacred History,” is currently housed at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork portrays a serene and intimate moment of the Nativity of John the Baptist. The scene features a reclining female figure, likely Saint Elizabeth the mother of John, attended by several women. The setting, with its ecclesiastical architecture and warm color palette, emphasizes the solemnity and sanctity of the event. The details of the figures and the objects, such as the vials and tableware, reflect the distinctive characteristics of Byzantine iconography. The presence of halos around the heads of the sacred figures underlines their holy nature, a typical feature in religious iconography of this era. The artist’s attention to detail and the use of gold leaf background enhance the divine atmosphere of the scene, making it a quintessential representation of Late Byzantine religious art.
