The Arts Society West Sussex – PICTURING THE NATIVITY

1 DECEMBER 2020

2.00pm – 3.00pm

The description of the Nativity in S. Luke is brief mentioning only the Holy family. But this did not prevent artists including a full supporting cast and incidental props to embellish both the mystical and maternal aspects, thereby capturing the imagination and empathy of the believer. So by the 15th century, the story had been expanded to include animals, shepherds, midwives, even contemporary portraits. The lecture will explore this by looking at Italian and Flemish paintings on the subject and the writings which supplied the stories. The result is touching, amusing, at times bordering on the blasphemous, but never dull.

MINCE PIES AND MULLED WINE FOLLOWING THE TALK

Presented by Shirley Smith