Christmas Fine Art
Ranked #9,638 in Arts & Design, #172,878 overall
Nativity Art of the Renaissance
So many amazing pieces of art work have been created over the centuries about the birth of Jesus Christ! Divine inspiration was given to numerous talented artists for these beautiful masterpieces! Come take a look at the art, artists, styles, and elements of art during the Renaissance art style period which depict this sacred story from the Bible.
Contents at a Glance
Biblical Passages on the Birth of Christ
- Luke 2
- New International Version ~ If you prefer a different translation, under the main title on the page you may select from a large variety.
- Matthew 1, 2
- Compare the passages in Matthew and Luke about the birth of Christ:
Art Education
The Nativity in Renaissance Art ~ Artcyclopedia's Advent Calendar was my entire inspiration for this page! It contains 25 pieces of fine art. When you click on the number of the day, it takes you to a brief explanation of the artwork and artist. What a great way to present the art masters along with Bible lessons! It contains a photo of the artwork and a brief description of the piece, artist, and connections to the Biblical story. You may click on the artist's name for links. If you would like more information on the artists and their pieces, you may want to search the following.
Parents & Teachers ~ Overall, the paintings and pages are excellent! Please view each painting and info before sharing with children for appropriateness. A few of the paintings contain items which you may prefer your students not to view (i.e. Creation of Adam in his ... uhmm ... birthday suit). Also, some of the Biblical interpretations are different than how I personnally feel about them, so, you may want to read them ahead of time to determine how you feel about it for yourself.
- Artcyclopedia Advent Calendar
- The Nativity in Renaissance Art
- Web Museum, Paris
- Research artists and paintings by name or style period.
- Web Gallery of Art
- Research Information
- Artchive
- Research art and artists by name, artist, an style period.
- Christian Art
- A multitude of pages regarding the artists on this page may be found in wikipedia. I did not include them, but this page will get you started if you want to read more about Biblical Art.
- Oxford Art Encyclopedia
- Research art concepts from a complete A-Z encyclopedia.
- Renaissance Art Style Period
- from Oxford Art Encyclopedia
The Christmas Story (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 05/27/2012)
"The timeless story of Christmas is beautifully retold through paintings by some of the world's greatest artists. Borrowing from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's extensive and rich collection, The Christmas Story depicts the Nativity through visual narration with the aid of paintings by, among others, Petrus Christus, Gerard David, and Hans Memling. Gold accents on the book jacket and interior pages make for a glorious and lush book.
The artworks, sensitively coupled with excerpts from the King James Version of the Bible, create a book that will be treasured by the entire family for years to come."
Titian / Tiziano Vecellio
Day 1 ~ The Presentation of the Virgin
When: c. 1485-1576
Where: Venice, Italy
Style Period: High Renaissance
Style: versatile, changing during lifetime, specialized in color usage
Types of paintings: portraits, mythological themes, religious subjects
Influence: Italian Renaissance and developing western art
Best Known Pieces:
- Entire Painting
- at Web Gallery of Art
Rogier van der Weyden
Day 2 ~ St. Luke Painting the Virgin and ChildWhen: ca.1400-1464
Where: Netherlands
Style Period: Northern Renaissance
Art Medium: paintings ~ religious and secular portraits
Best Known Works: St. Luke Drawing a Portrait of the Virgin
Rogier van der Weyden Biography
Georges de la Tour
Day 7 ~ The Dream of Joseph
When: 1593 - 1652
Where: France
Style Period: Baroque
Art Medium: Paintings
Best Known Art: The Education of the Virgin, The Dream of St. Joseph, Hurdy Gurdy
Georges de la Tour Biography
La Tour, Georges... ~ Buy at AllPosters.com
Fra Angelico Birth of Christ ArtPoster - 11x17 custom fit with RichAndFramous Black 11 inch Poster Hangers
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/27/2012)
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
When: 1617 - 1682
Where: Seville, Spain
Style Period: Baroque
Art Medium: painting
Best known works: Immaculate Conception, Moses Striking the Rock, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Tending the Sick, and St. Peter Released from Prison.
Michelangelo Buonarroti
When: 1475 - 1564
Where: Florence, Italy
Style Period: Renaissance
Art Medium: paintings, architecture, sculpting
Best Known Pieces: Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, David (statue)
Giovanni di Paolo
Day 13 ~ The Creation and the Expulsion from ParadiseWhen: 1399 - 1482
Where: Italy
Style Period: Gothic
Art Medium: paintings, illuminations
Best Known Pieces: St. Ansanus Baptizing, Madonna & Child with Angels
Giovanni di Paolo Biography
Antoine Caron
Day 16 ~ Augustus and the Tiburtine SybilWhen: 1521 - 1599
Where: France
Style Period: Renaissance
Art Medium: painting, glassmaking, illustrations
Best Known Pieces: Augustus and the Sibyl of the Tiber, Portrait of a Lady
Antoine Caron Biography
Carols for Christmas / Metropolitan Museum of Art
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 05/27/2012)
"This program features 24 popular carols in special arrangements by Sir David Willcocks, former director of the Royal College of Music, taken from the songbook Carols for Christmas, which he compiled for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lavishly illustrated with works of art and images of Christmas from the Museum's collections. The traditional Christmas carols are enhanced by a rich profusion of paintings, prints, decorative and entertaining illustrations from the Metropolitan Museum which are a splendid seasonal complement to the songs."
The Birth of Jesus
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ~ Luke 2
Pieter Bruegel
When: 1525 - 1569
Where: Breda, Netherlands (debated)
Style Period: Renaissance
Art Medium: painting
Best Known Pieces: The Tower of Babel
Shepherds
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ~ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. ~ Luke 2:8-12, 16-20
Jacopo Bassano
Day 19 ~ The Annunciation to the ShepherdsWhen: 1510 - 1592
Where: Venice, Italy
Style Period: Renaissance
Art Medium: painting
Best Known Pieces: Jacob's Return to Canaan, The Last Supper, Annunciation to the Shepherds
Hugo van der Goes
When: 1440 - 1483
Where: Brussels
Style Period: Early Netherlandish
Art Medium: paintings
Best Known Pieces: Fall of Man, Adoration of the Shepherds
Buy at AllPosters.com
Gentile da Fabriano
Day 21 ~ Journey & Adoration of the MagiWhen: 1370 - 1427
Where: Fabriano, Italy
Style Period: Gothic
Art Medium: painting, frescos
Best Known Works: Adoration of the Magi, Flight into Egypt.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ~ Luke 2:6-7
Piero della Francesca
When: 1415 - 1492
Where: Italy
Style Period: Early Renaissance
Art Medium: paintings, frescos
Best Known Pieces: The Resurrection, King of Solomon & Queen of Sheba
Buy at AllPosters.com
Luca Cambiaso
Day 25 ~ Virgin & Child
When: 1527 - 1585
Where: Genoa, Italy
Style Period: Late Renaissance
Art Medium: paintings
Best Known Pieces: Adoration of the Shepherds, Madonna of the Candle
Luca Cambiaso Paintings
Gifts for Art Lovers
Favorites
What is your favorite painting? Who is your favorite artist?
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NaturalMindset
Sep 9, 2010 @ 6:38 am | delete
- Beautiful and inspirational lens. Lensrolled on Quotes and Sentiments for Christmas Cards.
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JoyfulPamela
Sep 11, 2010 @ 4:26 am | delete
- Thank you! :-D
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Sylvestermouse
Dec 13, 2009 @ 3:58 pm | delete
- My favorite is probably "The Creation of Adam" I have been awed by copies of that picture all of my life and I finally visited the Sistine Chapel a couple of years ago. Because of the familiarity, I felt like I was home.
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JoyfulPamela
Dec 14, 2009 @ 12:00 pm | delete
- Wow ~ it would be so exciting to see the Sistine Chapel! I would probably just stand there in awe without saying a word!
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Jewelsofawe Nov 30, 2009 @ 3:08 pm | delete
- Wonderful lens! Blessed by an angel!
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Thank you for your sweet "Squid Angel Blessings"!
I wish you a very blessed Advent & Christmas season!
Christmas Theme Lenses
