The Birth of Christ by Hans Baldung Grien was created in 1520 and is in Alte Pinakothek München. The size of the work is 106,4 x 71,1 cm and is made of oil on wood.
About the Work
The composition of the painting is unusual; the view is obstructed by a prominent pillar. Within the ruins of a palace, Mary and Joseph kneel before the newborn, who is being tended to by angels; an ethereal light radiates from the child. In the distance, an angel proclaims the good news to the shepherds. The cool tones and the sharp, precise draftsmanship are characteristic of the artist’s work—he also depicted this subject as a “night scene” on the high altar in Freiburg.
