The artwork titled “Birth of Christ” was created by Andrei Rublev around the year 1405, in Moscow, Russian Federation. This religious painting, an icon belonging to the Byzantine and Moscow school of icon painting art movements, measures 81 x 62 cm. The painting is part of a series of artworks commissioned for the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin and is currently located in the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts the nativity scene, a significant event in Christian tradition. In the center, the Virgin Mary is portrayed reclining, draped in a red robe, with the infant Jesus placed in a manger surrounded by animals, symbolizing humility. Various figures, likely shepherds, angels, and the Magi, gather around, conveying the reverence and awe of the moment. The background features architectural elements and a rocky landscape, characteristic of Byzantine iconography. The use of gold leaf enhances the divine and timeless nature of the scene, while the stylistic composition reflects Rublev’s mastery in conveying spiritual narratives through icon painting.
