Nativity of the Virgin, 18th century
Egg tempera and gesso on wood.
30.5 x 25.5cm
no. 3131
£ 4,500.00
Inscription in Church Slavonic: Образ Рождества Пресвятой Богородицы, Image of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos
Feast Day: 8th September
The imagery is taken from the apocryphal Book of James or Protevangelium, a late second century 'gospel' of the Life of the Virgin. Saint Anna reclines on a bed; she is attended by midwives. The bathing of the newly born child symbolisied the perpetual purity of the mother of God. Joachim is shown looking in onto the scene from in front of a doorway.