Nativity (c.500 – c.600) by Orthodox Icons

Nativity - Orthodox Icons - c.500 - c.600

Artwork Information

TitleNativity
ArtistOrthodox Icons
Datec.500 - c.600
Mediumencaustic
Art MovementEarly Byzantine (c. 330–750)
Current LocationSaint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt

About Nativity

The artwork titled “Nativity”, created by “Orthodox Icons” between circa 500 and circa 600, represents the Early Byzantine art movement. Executed in the encaustic medium, this icon is part of the Evangelical cycle and is housed in Saint Catherine’s Monastery, located on Mount Sinai, Egypt. The composition is characteristic of its period, emphasizing religious imagery and themes intrinsic to the genre of iconography.

This particular piece depicts the nativity scene with a central focus on the Madonna lying beside the newborn Christ. The figures are rendered in the stylized manner typical of Byzantine art, characterized by solemn expressions and elaborate attire. Surrounding the central figures are a host of celestial beings and human attendants, each contributing to the sacred narrative. The intricate detail and the use of vibrant colors add a sense of depth and reverence to the scene, reflecting the devotional purpose of the artwork within its religious context.

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