Nativity 1500

"Nativity" (1500) by Pietro Perugino is a classic portrayal of the birth of Christ. The composition is balanced and harmonious, with the figures arranged in a semi-circle around the infant Jesus, who lies on a purple cloth. The three angels at the top of the painting add a sense of heavenly awe to the scene. The shepherds are rendered in a realistic style, kneeling and offering prayers to the newborn Christ. The artwork is housed in the Yale University Art Gallery and is considered a masterpiece of early Renaissance art.