description The Mystical Nativity Overview
The Mystical Nativity is a tempera painting on canvas completed by Sandro Botticelli in 1500 and now held by the National Gallery in London. It presents the Nativity together with angels, embracing figures, and defeated demons, combining the biblical birth of Christ with an apocalyptic vision. A Greek inscription at the top refers to contemporary troubles and the Book of Revelation, and the work is Botticelli's only known signed and dated painting.
help The Mystical Nativity FAQ
Where is Botticelli's The Mystical Nativity displayed?
The Mystical Nativity is held by the National Gallery in London. It is notable as Botticelli's only painting on canvas in the gallery's collection.
What makes The Mystical Nativity different from other Nativity paintings?
The painting combines the biblical Nativity with apocalyptic imagery, including angels, embracing figures, and defeated demons. This unusual fusion of themes reflects the influence of Savonarola's preaching and the millennial anxieties surrounding the year 1500.
What year did Botticelli paint The Mystical Nativity?
Sandro Botticelli completed The Mystical Nativity in 1500, a date inscribed on the painting itself. This places it during a period of political and religious turmoil in Florence following the execution of Savonarola.
What medium did Botticelli use for The Mystical Nativity?
Unlike many of Botticelli's major works which are painted on wood panel, The Mystical Nativity is a tempera painting on canvas. This choice of support contributes to the painting's distinctive appearance.
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