Nativity. Birth of Jesus 1306

Giotto painted this fresco of the Nativity around 1305 in Padua, using pigments on a freshly plastered wall. The blue of Mary’s robe, made from lapis lazuli, would have been the most expensive material. This was a luxury good, traded across long distances. Look closely, and you can see that some of the blue pigment has been lost. Fresco is a demanding medium. The artist has to work quickly, completing each section before the plaster dries. The rough texture of the surface attests to the speed and skill involved. Consider how the shepherds are represented: common people, shown with an unprecedented degree of naturalism. In Giotto's hands, the religious narrative becomes a scene of human labor and earthly reality. Ultimately, the value of this work resides not only in its spiritual subject, but also in the physical labor and costly materials that went into its making. Giotto elevated the craft of painting to the level of fine art.