Nativity

myminifactory

Who does this depict? The birth of Jesus or nativity is described in the gospels of Luke and Matthew. The two accounts agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a betrothed virgin named Mary during the time of Herod the Great. In Christian theology, the nativity marks the incarnation of Jesus as the second Adam, fulfilling God's divine will to undo the damage caused by Adam's fall. This event has been a major subject for Christian artists since the 4th century, emphasizing the humility of Jesus and promoting a more tender image of him. The nativity plays a significant role in the Christian liturgical year. Western Christians begin observing Advent four Sundays before Christmas, while Eastern Orthodox Christians observe a similar season called the Nativity Fast during the forty days leading up to Christmas on January 7. What is this statue made of? A stele is a stone or wooden slab, often taller than it is wide, used in ancient Western culture as a monument for funerary or commemorative purposes. It may have text and ornamentation, such as inscriptions, carvings, or paintings. Stelae were also used to mark borders or delineate land ownership. Who created this art piece? Jacopo della Quercia was born in 1374 near Siena, Italy. He received his early training from his father, a woodcarver and goldsmith. Della Quercia must have seen the works of Nicola Pisano and Arnolfo di Cambio on the pulpit in the cathedral of Siena, which likely influenced him. His first work may have been an equestrian wooden statue for the funeral of Azzo Ubaldini. Della Quercia's work shows a midcareer shift from the Gothic style to that of the Italian Renaissance, possibly due to exposure to his contemporary, Donatello. His earliest known works include the Man of Sorrows and a relief on the tomb of St. Aniello in Lucca cathedral.