16 Paintings scenes from the Bible, by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, Pascal-Adolphe-Jean Dagnan-Bouveret, Otto van Veen, Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari, Giovanni Lanfranco, The Caravaggisti, Joseph Heiss, Pietro Novelli and Jean Restout , with footnotes #26

In Christian theology the nativity marks the incarnation of Jesus as the second Adam, in fulfillment of the divine will of God, undoing the damage caused by the fall of the first man, Adam. The artistic depiction of the nativity has been a major subject for Christian artists since the 4th century. Since the 13th century, the nativity scene has emphasized the humility of Jesus and promoted a more tender image of him, as a major turning point from the early “Lord and Master” image, affecting the basic approaches of Christian pastoral ministry. More on Nativity

Pieter Coecke van Aelst or Pieter Coecke van Aelst the Elder (Aalst, 14 August 1502 — Brussels, 6 December 1550) was a Flemish painter, sculptor, architect, author and designer of woodcuts, stained glass and tapestries. His principal subjects were Christian religious themes. He worked in Antwerp and Brussels and was appointed court painter to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor…

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