The Nativity (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Curator: Here we have Jacques-Louis David's "The Nativity," part of his Roman Album. It's a small work, just a bit bigger than a postcard, rendered in delicate wash. Editor: It feels so…unfinished. Like a memory, flickering between clarity and shadow. What is it trying to say? Curator: The Nativity scene, of course, is replete with symbolic weight. We have Mary holding the infant Jesus, a figure gesturing towards them. Notice the architecture; David anchors the divine event within human-built structures. Editor: But look at Joseph's expression! He's not adoring; he's almost…exasperated. That throws the whole thing off for me. Maybe it's about doubt, too? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps it's David showing us the humanity within the divine story. He's inviting us to ponder the intersection, wouldn’t you say? Editor: I think, ultimately, it is an intriguing glimpse into David’s mind, his own way of grappling with belief.