The artwork, titled “Nativity,” is attributed to the artist(s) known as “Orthodox Icons” and was created approximately between the years 1675 and 1725. It belongs to the Kyiv school of icon painting, a notable movement in the history of Orthodox Christian art. The genre of this piece is an icon, and it forms part of the Evangelical cycle series.
The artwork vividly captures the traditional Christian scene of the Nativity of Jesus. Central to the composition is the Virgin Mary, depicted with a serene and contemplative expression, gazing upon the newborn Jesus who is swaddled and resting in a manger. Joseph is also present, standing protectively, and the composition is completed with the inclusion of an angel and two shepherds, symbolizing the witnesses to this holy event. The scene is framed within a golden, ornate octagonal border, which draws attention to the spiritual significance and reverence of the depicted event. The landscape, rendered with a stylistic simplicity typical of the Kyiv school, adds a sense of humility and sacredness to the tableau.