The Nativity
c. 1508-1519
Juan de Flandes, a Flemish painter who became court artist to Queen Isabella of Castile, brings a delightful mix of Northern European detail to this Nativity scene. Notice the curious owl perched atop the crumbling ruins—a clever symbol often used to represent the darkness of the old world being replaced by the light of Christ. While Mary prays in her rich emerald robes, the background bustles with shepherds receiving the angelic announcement. The donkey and ox lean in with almost human curiosity, grounding the divine moment in a rustic, relatable reality.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
Location: Museo del Prado
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