Beautiful Oil On Canvas Depicting A Nativity From The 17th Century, Fresh From Expert Cleaning

This magnificent oil on canvas is a representation of a Nativity scene, probably dating from the 17th century. It is a work that, despite the wear and tear of time, retains all its beauty and expressiveness, and has recently benefited from expert cleaning, bringing its details and colours back to life. The scene, typical of 17th-century Christian representations, presents the birth of Christ in an atmosphere of contemplation and devotion. The composition, centred around the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, follows the classic iconographic codes of the Nativity. There is a rich colour palette, but darkened by age, which recalls the techniques and artistic influences of the Baroque period, where the emphasis was on dramatisation and the play of light and shadow. The Virgin Mary is depicted on the left, contemplating her son with tenderness. She is wrapped in a delicate veil and wears a dark red dress, a color often associated with Christ's humanity and sacrifice. Beside her, the Child Jesus lies in a manger, surrounded by simple cloths. His face is luminous, and he is the center of attention of the other characters present. To the right of Mary, we can see several characters who probably embody the shepherds who have come to pay homage to the newborn, as recounted in the Gospels. Their faces, expressive and detailed, bear witness to a certain humanity, with looks that are both amazed and humble. One of the shepherds, kneeling in the foreground, seems to prostrate himself before the child, holding a lamb as an offering, a symbol of purity and sacrifice. The other shepherds approach, leaning over, one of them raising his hat in a sign of respect. This scene reflects an intimate and spiritual atmosphere, where the simplicity of the characters contrasts with the divine scope of the event. The animals in the nativity scene, including the donkey and the ox, are also depicted in the centre of the scene, in close proximity to Christ, in keeping with tradition. The ox and the donkey, symbols of patience and humility, are frequently present in Nativity scenes, testifying to the modest environment in which Christ was born. The dark background highlights the figures in the foreground, a technique typical of the Baroque that seeks to dramatise contrasts of light. The restoration work has probably revived these contrasts and restored relief to the whole, by removing deposits accumulated over time. The recent cleaning by experts has undoubtedly revealed subtle details of this canvas, such as the finesse of the facial expressions and the richness of the fabrics. The work, freed from layers of dirt and tarnished varnish, has regained a freshness that allows us to appreciate the painter's virtuosity in his mastery of textures and play of light. Thus, this 17th century canvas, representing the Nativity, regains all its brilliance thanks to an expert intervention, revealing a balanced composition, characters full of expressions and a striking use of shadows and lights. This object is available for sale in my shop at 57 rue Victor Hugo, 76000 Rouen Possibility of delivery (ask for a transport quote) You can follow me on my Instagram by following this link: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.boussougant/ Back to the shop: Online sale of antique objects and furniture, purchase in complete security (abnantiquites.com)