Nativity is one of the most beautiful and solemn Christian holidays. Throughout the Christian world, including Rus', Christmas has always been celebrated with special reverence. On this day, decorated Christmas trees stand everywhere, symbolizing the gospel tree, candles burn, like those that burned in the Bethlehem stable. In many countries, on Christmas night, children take to the streets singing carols. Christmas Eve is called "Christmas Eve".
Christmas Eve in the Christian world is considered exclusively a family dinner. On this day, peace, love and harmony reign in the house.
The selection dedicated to Christmas includes the following paintings:
1. Giorgio Vasari. Christmas.
Giorgio Vasari (Giorgio Vasari; nicknamed Aretino, July 30, 1511, Arezzo - June 27, 1574, Florence) - architect and painter, author of the first history and theory of art, “Lives of the most famous painters, sculptors and architects.”
2. Borovikovsky Vladimir Lukich. Nativity. Canvas, oil
Historical-architectural and Art Museum“New Jerusalem”, Istra, Moscow region
Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1757-1825) - Russian artist, master of portraiture.
3. Jacob de Bakker. Nativity.
Backer, Jacob, Dutch painter (1608-1657), Rembrandt school, portrait painter.
4. Giorgione. Adoration of the Magi.
Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, better known as Giorgione (Italian: Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, Giorgione; 1477/1478-1510) - Italian artist, representative of the Venetian school of painting; one of the greatest masters of the High Renaissance.
5. Rogier van der Weyden. Adoration of the Magi.
Rogier van der Weyden (Dutch. Rogier van der Weyden, 1399/1400, Tournai - June 18, 1464, Brussels) - a Dutch painter, along with Jan van Eyck, is considered one of the founders and most influential masters of early Netherlandish painting. Van der Weyden's work focuses on individuality human personality in all its depth.
6. Rembrandt, Harmens van Rijn. Flight to Egypt.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn [ˈrɛmbrɑnt ˈɦɑrmə(n)soːn vɑn ˈrɛin], 1606-1669) - Dutch artist, draftsman and engraver, Great master chiaroscuro, the largest representative of the golden age Dutch painting. He managed to embody in his works the entire spectrum of human experiences with such emotional richness that fine art had never known before. Rembrandt's works, extremely diverse in genre, reveal to the viewer the timeless spiritual world of human experiences and feelings.
7. Hugo van der Goes. Christmas.
Hugo van der Goes (Dutch. Hugo van der Goes) (c. 1420-25, Ghent - 1482, Oderghem) - Flemish artist, whom Albrecht Dürer considered the largest representative of early Netherlandish painting, along with Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden.
8. Sandro Botticelli. Mystical Christmas.
“Mystical Christmas” (Italian Natività mistica) is one of latest paintings Florentine artist Sandro Botticelli, created during a period marked in his work by the breakdown of Quattrocento optimism, the growth of religiosity and an acutely tragic perception of the world.
The painting was practically unknown until the Englishman Otley saw it at the Villa Aldobrandini and acquired it. Botticelli was "rediscovered" by art critics with the beginning of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which is when John Ruskin gave the canvas its current name. In 1878, the London National Gallery purchased the painting for 1,500 pounds.
9. Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio. Christmas with Saints Francis and Lawrence.
Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio (1573-1610), Italian artist, reformer European painting 17th century, one of greatest masters baroque. One of the first to use the “chiaroscuro” style of painting - a sharp contrast of light and shadow.
10. Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov. Nativity.
Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov (1862-1942) - Russian and Soviet painter. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1942). Laureate Stalin Prize first degree (1941).
Gentile da Fabriano.
Adoration of the Magi. Fragment. The Magi see a star announcing the birth of a new king of the Jews (Christmas).
Ilya Efimovich Repin.
Nativity.
1890.
Birth of Jesus
In those days, the Roman Caesar Augustus issued an order to take a census of the entire earth.
And everyone went to sign up - each to his own city. Since Joseph was from the city of Bethlehem, he went there with Mary.
In Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth. She swaddled the baby and put it in a cattle feeder, in a manger, because there was no room for him and Joseph in the inn.
And at this time an angel appeared to the shepherds who were guarding their cattle at night and said:
- I proclaim to you great joy: the Savior was born in Bethlehem - Christ the Lord. You will find a baby in a manger.
The shepherds came running and found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone about the knowledge and about the baby.
Eight days later the baby was named Jesus.
Then they carried it to Jerusalem to present the baby to God and sacrifice two turtle doves or two chicks of pigeons, as stated in the laws of Moses.
There was then a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. It was predicted to him that he would not die until he saw the Savior. Simeon came to the temple at the time when the parents brought Jesus there, took him in his arms and said:
“Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace, for I have seen the Savior.”
Joseph and Mary were very surprised at these words.
Anna the prophetess, eighty-four years old, was also there. She did not leave the temple at all - she prayed to God day and night. She approached the baby, and praised the Lord, and began to talk about him to everyone in Jerusalem.
Biblical legends. Derbent, Interexpress. 1992.
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Mathis Gotthart Grunewald.
Inzenheim altar. Nativity.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM ACTUALLY FLASHED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 12TH CENTURY. (ABSOLUTE ASTRONOMICAL DATING OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST)
We will use the fundamental work of I. S. Shklovsky “Supernovae and related problems.” In it, the third chapter is almost entirely devoted to the “star of 1054”. The remnant of this outbreak is the modern Crab Nebula in the constellation Taurus.
Let’s say right away that the date “1054” is taken from old chronicles, in particular Chinese and Japanese. In whom I. S. Shklovsky completely trusts. But we have no reason to do this. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to involve such dubious information. It turns out that this supernova explosion can be DATED PURELY ASTRONOMICALLY, and with high accuracy. This is what was done by American astronomers in the 20th century.
A reliable astronomical dating of the Star of Bethlehem is as follows: 1140, plus or minus 20-30 years. That is, the MIDDLE OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.
ADDENDUM ABOUT HALLEY'S COMET. Today it is known that the return period of Halley's Comet is approximately 76 years... Since the penultimate time Halley's Comet appeared in 1910, it is easy to calculate that around 1910 - 760 = 1150, Halley's Comet should also have appeared. Whether it was visible that year whether it was good or bad, we don’t know. But if it really appeared in the sky as spectacularly as in the 17th-20th centuries (for example, as in 1910), then for several years two bright phenomena could be observed in the sky - a starburst around 1150 and Halley's Comet around 1150 . Which, naturally, should have further strengthened the impression of people. Subsequently, the two phenomena could become confused and combined. The Gospels say that the star of Bethlehem moved and led the wise men. Which is reminiscent of the behavior of a comet: “And behold, the star which they saw in the east WALKED BEFORE THEM, AND FINALLY CAME AND STANDED over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9). Figure 1.7 shows one of the vintage images the Gospel Star of Bethlehem in the form of a “tailed star”. This is how comets were previously depicted.
We see an even more frank image of the Star of Bethlehem in the form of a comet in Giotto’s painting “The Adoration of the Magi”...
Giotto di Bondone.
Adoration of the Magi.
The tail of the star is stretched upward to the left - which means that the artist most likely painted a comet and not, say, a star with a ray pointing to the infant Christ.
Albrecht Altdorfer.
Holy Night (Nativity of Christ).
It is curious that in the medieval painting “The Nativity” by Albrecht Altdorfer, TWO HEAVENLY LIGHTS are depicted at the top left, marking the Nativity. One of them is the huge Star of Bethlehem in the form of a spherical flare. And just below is a more elongated and swirling luminary, inside of which a small angel is depicted.
We see a similar image of exactly two heavenly “flares” that announced the birth of Christ on the famous medieval Paumgartner altar, created by Albrecht Durer allegedly in the 16th century.
Albrecht Durer.
Altar of the Paumgartners.
1503.
We see a spherical flash of the Star of Bethlehem, and a little lower (as, by the way, in Altdorfer’s painting) - an elongated swirling star with an angel inside. In both of the above paintings, a pair of celestial bodies is depicted in a bright yellow, golden color, which immediately catches the eye in more dark background the rest of the landscape.
Thus, such medieval images apparently convey to us ancient tradition associate both the starburst and the comet that appeared at that time with Christmas.
* * *
Vasily Shebuev.
Nativity.
Let us turn to the "Lutheran Chronograph" of the 17th century, which describes world history from the creation of the world to 1680. It talks, in particular, about the celebration of medieval Christian “Jubilees”, which were celebrated in the Vatican in the years 1299-1550. Jubilees were established in memory of Christ, as they were celebrated on the days of the January calendar. The Nativity of Christ was celebrated, close to the Kalends of January, and not another Christian holiday...
The years of Jubilees were appointed by the popes. According to the Lutheran Chronograph, in 1390 the “Jubilee of Christ” was designated by Pope Urban IV as the THIRTY-YEAR JUBILEE of the Nativity of Christ. Then he became ten years old, and from 1450, by order of Pope Nicholas VI, he became fifty years old.
Let's carry out a simple but very interesting calculation. Let us note that if the Jubilee from the Nativity of Christ in 1390 was celebrated as a THIRTY YEAR (that is, a multiple of 30 years), and in 1450 - as a FIFTY YEAR (a multiple of 50 years), then through simple calculations we come to full list possible - from the point of view of the medieval popes - years of the Nativity of Christ. Namely: 1300, 1150, 1000, 850, 700, 550, 400, 250, 100 AD. and so on in increments of 150 years into the past (150 is the least common multiple of the numbers 30 and 50). It is striking that the resulting list of dates does not include that “zero” year AD, where historians place the Nativity of Christ today. It turns out that the popes who organized the Jubilee did not at all think that Christ was born at the beginning of our era, as later chronologists of the 16th-17th centuries stated. The date of the Nativity of Christ was obviously something completely different for the popes of the 14th century.
Among the indicated dates, which are located quite rarely, we see a date that falls exactly in the middle of the 12th century. This is the year 1150. WHICH IS AGAIN PERFECTLY IN CONSISTENCY WITH THE ASTRONOMICAL DATING OF THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM IN THE YEAR 1140, PLUS OR MINUS 10 YEARS.
G. V. Nosovsky, A. T. Fomenko. King of the Slavs.
* * *
Lorenzo Lotto.
Nativity.
Master from Moulins.
Nativity of Christ and Cardinal Rolin.
Piero della Francesca.
Nativity.
Rogier van der Weyden.
Bladlen Altar (Middelburg Altar). Nativity.
Federico Barocci.
Nativity.
Hans Baldung.
Nativity.
El Greco.
Nativity.
Edward Burne-Jones. Adoration of the Magi 
Matthieu Le Nain. Worship of the Shepherds
Guido Reni. Worship of the Shepherds 
Peter Paul Rubens. Adoration of the Magi
While they were there, the time came for Her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6–7). Until the beginning of the 5th century, Christmas was celebrated simultaneously and as a feast of Epiphany. Therefore, the painting mixed the subjects of the birth itself and subsequent episodes, which, strictly speaking, relate more to the Epiphany - the worship of the Magi (kings), the worship of the shepherds, which do not always include an image of the birth of Christ directly.
Joseph's dream.
Alexander Andreevich Ivanov. 1850s
Paper, watercolor, Italian pencil.
Moscow. State Tretyakov Gallery
Nativity.
Gagarin Grigory Grigorievich
Adoration of the Magi.
Gagarin Grigory Grigorievich
Nativity of Christ (Adoration of the Shepherds).
Shebuev Vasily Kozmich. 1847 Oil on canvas. 233x139.5 cm.
Image for the Annunciation Church of the Horse Guards Regiment in St. Petersburg
Nativity.
Repin Ilya Efimovich. 1890 Oil on canvas. 73x53.3.
The appearance of an angel announcing the birth of Christ to the shepherds. Sketch.
Ivanov Alexander Andreevich. 1850s.
Brown paper, watercolor, white, Italian pencil. 26.4x39.7
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
The Doxology of the Shepherds.
Ivanov Alexander Andreevich. 1850
The appearance of an angel to the shepherds.
Petrovsky Pyotr Stepanovich (1814-1842). 1839 Oil on canvas. 213x161.
Cherepovets Museum Association
For this painting, the young artist, a student of Karl Bryullov, received the first large gold medal of the Academy of Arts in 1839. The canvas was in the museum of the Imperial Academy of Arts until its closure, then it was transferred to the Cherepovets Museum of Local Lore.
Nativity.
Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich. 1885-1896
Murals of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv
Nativity.
Vishnyakov Ivan Yakovlevich and others, 1755
From the Trinity-Petrovsky Cathedral.
State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Christmas.
Borovikovsky Vladimir Lukich. 1790 Oil on canvas.
Tver regional Art Gallery
Nativity.
Borovikovsky Vladimir Lukich. Canvas, oil
Historical, Architectural and Art Museum "New Jerusalem"
Nativity.
M.V. Nesterov. 1890-1891 Paper on cardboard, gouache, gold. 41 x 31.
Sketch of the painting of the altar wall of the southern aisle in the choir of the Vladimir Cathedral
State Tretyakov Gallery
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=15006
Nativity.
Sketch of the painting of the altar wall of the southern aisle in the choir of the Vladimir Cathedral.
Nesterov Mikhail Vasilievich. 1890–1891 Paper on cardboard, gouache, gold. 41x31.8
State Tretyakov Gallery
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=14959
Nativity.
M. V. Nesterov. 1890
The kneeling figure of a young man with a staff in his hand. Hand holding a staff. Hand raised to mouth.
M.V. Nesterov. Etude. 1890-1891 Paper on cardboard, graphite pencil, Italian pencil, charcoal. 49x41.
Preparatory studies for the figure of one of the shepherds of the composition "The Nativity of Christ" (the southern altar is attached to the choir of St. Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv)
Kyiv state museum Russian art
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=4661
Christmas (Bow to the Kings).
M.V. Nesterov. 1903
Fragment of the painting of the northern wall of the church in the name of the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=15189
Christmas (Bow to the Kings).
M.V. Nesterov. 1899-1900 Paper on cardboard, graphite pencil, gouache, watercolor, bronze, aluminum. 31x49.
Sketch of the painting of the northern wall of the church in the name of the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky.
State Russian Museum
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=15177
Magi. Sketch
Ryabushkin Andrey Petrovich. Paper, watercolor
Kostroma State United Art Museum
Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lebedev Klavdiy Vasilievich (1852-1816)
Angelic praise at the moment of the birth of the Savior.
Lebedev Klavdiy Vasilievich (1852-1816)
Nativity.
Lebedev Klavdiy Vasilievich (1852-1816). Graphic arts.
Adoration of the Magi.
Klavdiy Vasilievich Lebedev,
Church and Archaeological Office of the MDA
Adoration of the Magi.
Valerian Otmar. 1897 Oil on canvas, 71x66.
Original mosaic for the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
The appearance of an angel to the shepherds. Nativity. Candlemas.
Nativity.
Mosaic based on the original by I. F. Porfirov
Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Savior on Spilled Blood), St. Petersburg
The Nativity of Christ and other sacred scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God.
I. Ya. Bilibin.
Sketch of a fresco for the southern wall of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Olshany
Magi (wise men).
Pavel Nikolaevich Filonov. 1914 Watercolor, brown ink, ink, pen, brush on paper. 37x39.2 cm.
State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Olga's Gallery
Adoration of the Magi.
Pavel Nikolaevich Filonov. 1913 Wood, pencil, gouache. 45.7x34.9.
Private collection
Initially, the work was in the possession of the artist’s sister Evdokia Glebova.
On October 17, 1990 it was sold to an anonymous person at Sotheby's auction,
then on November 29, 2006, it was sold again at Christie’s for $1.5 million.
Christie's auction house
Adoration of the Magi.
Pavel Nikolaevich Filonov. 1913. Paper, gouache (tempera?), 35.5x45.5.
Private collection, Switzerland
Publication Tretyakov Gallery, 2006
http://www.tg-m.ru/articles/06/04/042–049.pdf
Source sites for reproductions:
New Year and Christmas holidays– one of the most popular themes in world art. Unique atmosphere winter's tale, expectations of a miracle, family comfort, recreated in painting towards the end of XIX – early XX centuries, takes us back to an era of great change, so similar to beginning of XXI V.
One of the favorite themes of the Russian artist Boris Kustodiev was festivities during the winter holidays. He often depicts snow-covered villages and provincial towns, merchants and peasants on the streets, fairs and booths. Kustodiev created a nostalgic art world, permeated with sun, joy and festive mood. The subjects of his paintings are always fabulous, this is both the Russian province of the early twentieth century and fairy-tale Rus' without specific time and spatial coordinates.
Danish artist Viggo Johansen - professor of painting, director of the Danish Academy of Arts - often painted scenes from family life. One of his most magical works can be called the painting “ Merry Christmas" The artist willingly resorted to lighting effects in paintings painted in dark colors. And in this work, against the background of dark silhouettes of people and shadows in the corners of the room, the tree sparkling with festive lights looks even brighter and more contrasting. This is the center of the composition, which is highlighted with the help of both color and light. The glare from the lights illuminates the spellbound children's faces, which creates a magical atmosphere for a cozy family holiday.
Even Grand Duchess Olga Romanova, the youngest daughter of Alexander III, painted paintings dedicated to winter holidays. In the imperial family, all the children studied painting, but only Olga studied it professionally. In 1920, she had to emigrate first to Yugoslavia, then to Denmark. The painting “New Year's Treat” was created in 1935, far from the homeland, but it recreates the traditional Russian atmosphere of a festive tea party with pie, jam and a samovar.
The family atmosphere of anticipation for the holiday is also captured in Sergei Dosekin’s painting “Preparing for Christmas.” There is no Christmas tree or gifts visible, but in the center of the composition are grandfather and grandchildren who are preparing garlands and decorations for the house.
State Museum fine arts named after A.S. Pushkin implemented another significant project. In the halls of the Moscow museum there was an exhibition, dedicated to creativity outstanding artist Michelangelo da Caravaggio. The exhibition takes place as part of the Year of Italy in Russia.
The exhibition includes 11 works by the master from the collections of Italy and the Vatican. The exhibition is small, but rare in its content. Among the works presented are such masterpieces of European painting as “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” from the Borghese Gallery, which almost never leaves the walls Vatican Palace“Entombment”, “Supper at Emmaus” from Milan’s Brera Gallery, “Conversion of Saul” from the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo and other paintings.
The selection dedicated to Christmas includes the following paintings:
4. Giorgione. Adoration of the Magi.
5. Rogier van der Weyden. Adoration of the Magi.
6. Rembrandt, Harmens van Rijn. Flight to Egypt.
7. Hugo van der Goes. Christmas.
10. Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov. Nativity.
12. Eugene Henri Paul Gauguin. Christmas.
Giorgio Vasari(1511-1574) - Italian painter, architect and writer.
Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky(1757-1825) - Russian artist, master of portraiture.
Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco, better known as Giorgione(1476/1477 – 1510)) - Italian artist, representative of the Venetian school of painting; one of the greatest masters of the High Renaissance.
Rogier van der Weyden(1399/1400 – 1464) – van Eyck’s rival for the title of the most influential master of early Netherlandish painting.
Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn (16-6-1669) - Dutch artist, draftsman and engraver, great master of chiaroscuro, the largest representative of the golden age of Dutch painting.
Hugo van der Goes(c. 1420-25 – 1482) – Flemish artist. Albrecht Dürer considered him the largest representative of early Netherlandish painting, along with Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden.
Sandro Botticelli(1445-1510) is the nickname of the Florentine artist Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, who brought the art of the Quattrocento to the threshold of the High Renaissance.
Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio(1573-1610), Italian artist, reformer of European painting of the 17th century, one of the greatest masters of the Baroque. One of the first to use the “chiaroscuro” style of painting - a sharp contrast of light and shadow.
Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov(1862-1942) - Russian and Soviet painter. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1942). Winner of the Stalin Prize, first degree (1941).
Shebuev, Vasily Kozmich- (* April 2 (13), 1777 in Kronstadt - † June 16 (28), 1855, St. Petersburg) - Russian painter, actual state councilor, academician, honored rector of painting and sculpture of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1832), one of leading masters of late classicism and academicism.
Eugene Henri-Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) – French painter, sculptor, ceramicist and graphic artist. Along with Cezanne and Van Gogh, he was the largest representative of post-impressionism.
