The Nativity c. 1497 - 1503

This painting, The Nativity, which is held at the Städel Museum, was made by an anonymous artist with oil on wood. The artist uses traditional art materials, oil paints, and wood panel, to represent a familiar religious scene. The painting’s surface is smooth, reflecting the meticulous layering of oil paint. The colours have a striking quality, and Mary's dress flows from the top to the bottom of the painting. The artist has created a highly stylized composition, using linear perspective in the left and right corners of the painting. The painting is divided into three planes: the first plane contains the baby Jesus, Mary, the donkey, and the ox; the second plane contains Joseph holding a candle; and the third plane is a bucolic scene of a man leading a child in a garden. Paying close attention to materials, making, and context in this Nativity, challenges traditional notions of fine art.