3-098-228 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Nativity, 16th century. In the centre foreground is the naked Christ Child, lying on a diaphanous cloth, being sniffed by the donkey and ox that appear above his head. The Virgin Mary kneels with her hands clasped in prayer, while on the left, Saint Joseph is depicted as an old man, seated with his staff, blessing the baby. To the right of the Virgin, a shepherd appears carrying a lamb, and behind Joseph, another figure plays the bagpipes. In the background, two angels are praying, and through the stable on the right the towers of a city can be seen. In the distance, in front of some rocky mountains, the Three Wise Men appear, guided by a golden star in the sky.