The Nativity 1500 - 1516

Bernardino Fungai's "The Nativity" (1500-1516) depicts the birth of Jesus in a serene, almost idyllic setting. The figures of the Virgin Mary and Joseph are kneeling in adoration of the newborn Christ, whose naked form is a stark contrast to the richly colored robes of his parents. The scene is set in a landscape of rolling hills and trees, with a ruined building in the background, suggesting a sense of both stability and decay. This painting, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Fungai's skill in depicting both the sacred and the secular, creating a timeless image of one of Christianity's most important events.