The Holy Night

Correggio

1522 - 1530

The Holy Night by Correggio, 1522 - 1530

Correggio revolutionized religious art by making the infant Jesus the actual source of light in this scene, casting a divine glow on the Virgin Mary and the stunned shepherds. This dramatic illumination was centuries ahead of its time, foreshadowing the intense contrasts of the Baroque period. Above, a choir of angels bursts through the clouds, while below, the shepherds react with theatrical awe, their faces lit by the holy child. Originally created for the church of San Prospero in Reggio Emilia, this masterpiece—often called 'La Notte'—was so famous it was eventually acquired by a German Duke.

Technique
Oil on canvas
Material
Canvas

Location: Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden

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