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.
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.