This three-paneled nativity depiction includes a few people who were not historically present at the blessed birth of Christ. The 14th century artist inserted them into the scene to add to his intended interpretation of the event. Instead of the shepherds and the magi, Gerard painted a pair of Catholic saints (in the left-hand panel) and a couple of donors (in the right-hand panel) to his work.
I
find this rather intriguing.
And,
as is often the custom with religious artwork, all of the figures in the image
seem to be arrayed in attire fitting the historical period of the artist
himself.
Nativity with
Donors and Saints Jerome and Leonard, by David Gerard, c1510
As
a non-Catholic, I had to look up St. Jerome and St. Leonard. St. Jerome, who
was a learned historian, is the patron saint of librarians. St. Leonard is the
patron saint of prisoners, horses, and women in labor.
I’d
also like to know who the two individuals peeking in the window are intended to
be.
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