An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
The Adoration of the Christ ChildJacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen (Netherlandish, c. 1470/75–by 1533)
Workshop of Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen (Netherlandish, c. 1470/75–by 1533)
c. 1515
Netherlands
98.5 × 76.3 cm (38 3/4 × 30 1/16 in.); Framed: 108 × 86.4 × 9.6 cm (42 1/2 × 34 × 3 3/4 in.)
Oil on panel
George F. Harding Collection
['16th Century']
['holy family', 'palace', 'angels', 'biblical', 'birds', 'Christian subjects', 'Christianity', 'doves', 'foliage', 'Jesus', 'landscape', 'music', 'musical instruments', 'putti', 'religion', 'religious', 'ruins', 'saints', 'sheep', 'shepherds', 'trees', 'Virgin and child/Madonna and child', 'Virgin Mary']
['oil on panel', 'oil paintings (visual works)', 'paint', 'painting', 'european painting']
['oil paint (paint)', 'organic material', 'panel (wood)', 'wood (plant material)']
['panel painting', 'oil painting', 'painting (image making)', 'painting techniques']
According to tradition, the birth of Christ took place in a stable constructed in the ruins of King David’s palace in Bethlehem. In Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen’s painting, the garlands and scrollwork of the architecture and the tumbling musical angels demonstrate an exuberant adaptation of Renaissance motifs to an essentially late medieval scene. Jacob Cornelisz. was the first major painter established in Amsterdam. The importance of this city in the northern portion of the Netherlands increased dramatically over the course of the 16th century.
| attributed to Art Institute of Chicago under CC-By license
In the gentle embrace of history, the story of the nativity unfolds in a humble stable, nestled within the remnants of King David’s majestic palace in Bethlehem. It is a place where the air feels thick with wonder, and the flickering light reveals the tender moment of Christ’s birth. Shadows dance softly across the weathered walls, illuminating the sacred scene that is captured in Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen’s enchanting painting.
With the grace of the Renaissance, the painting vibrates with life. Each garland and scrollwork flows elegantly around the figures, as if whispering tales of old. Musical angels tumble joyfully through the air, their lilting melodies echoing through time, bringing the moment alive in a celebration of spirit. The colors are warm and inviting, a reminder that beauty can arise from even the simplest of places.
Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen stands as a beacon in the art world, the first major painter to carve out his legacy in the vibrant city of Amsterdam. His brush danced across the canvas during a time when Amsterdam was awakening, rising to prominence in the 16th century, an era marked by flourishing arts and culture. The city breathed new life into creativity, becoming a crucible where ideas bloomed.
In this tranquil moment, amidst the ruins of the past, the intimate birth of hope takes place, enriched by the thriving world beyond its walls. The stable might be modest, but the spirit it cradles is destined to illuminate vast horizons.
About the artist
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