
Read the visual description
The image shows multiple figures, both adults and children, in a busy composition. A woman in the center holds an infant, draped in fabric, with other women around her. One woman holds a bowl beside the seated woman, while another stands with a basket on her head. The people have classical facial features common in Renaissance art. An older bearded man near the center appears to have a glowing halo. The individuals wear flowing garments. In the clouds above, an older figure with a robe and beard is surrounded by cherubs or angelic children. The background has swirling clouds around the divine figures looking down on the earthly gathering.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
Birth of the Virgin
Follower of Francesco Fontebasso
- Date
- 18th century
- Medium
- pen and brown ink, brush and brown ink, and brown wash, heightened with white, on prepared laid paper
- Dimensions
- overall (approximate): 54.4 x 36.1 cm (21 7/16 x 14 3/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1973.64.1
- Credit line
- Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm W. Bick
- Time span
- 1651 to 1700
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- Life of the Virgin Mary
- religious
- Nativity of the Virgin
Provenance
(Christian M. Nebehay, Vienna, by 1906); J.V. Novak (Lugt 1949); (Christian M. Nebehay, Vienna, c. 1969); Malcolm M. BIck, Springfield, MA, by 1973); gift to NGA in 1973.
Inscription
in later hand, upper center verso: 13.; lower right verso: XXI/4b / #13
NGA object ID 54064. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.