The Birth of the Virgin
The Met
Artist: Fra Carnevale (Bartolomeo di Giovanni Corradini)(Italian, born by 1416–died 1484 Urbino)
Date: 1467
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Tempera and oil on wood
Dimensions: 57 x 37 7/8 in. (144.8 x 96.2 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers and Gwynne Andrews Funds, 1935
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A classical building with relief sculptures, a birth scene, and a procession of figures
Detailed Description
The painting depicts a large, multi-story classical building dominating the frame, with a vibrant blue sky visible on the upper left. The building is rendered in shades of light gray and white, with architectural details in darker gray. The uppermost level features a flat roofline and a frieze with decorative elements. Below this, a section of the facade displays three rectangular panels with relief sculptures of nude or partially draped figures in dynamic poses, separated by arched windows. The leftmost panel shows a standing figure, the middle a seated figure with a child, and the rightmost two figures entwined with a serpent. Below this, a grand portico with large gray columns and arches forms the main entrance to the building's interior. On the far left, outside the building, a group of figures in colorful attire, including reds, blues, and browns, are gathered in what appears to be a town square or courtyard. A small brown dog stands near them. Inside the building, visible through the arches, several scenes unfold. In the mid-ground, to the right, a woman lies in a bed, attended by other women. Nearby, a baby is being bathed by a kneeling woman. Further to the right, another woman stands in a doorway. In the foreground, a procession of women moves from left to right up a set of wide steps. The woman at the far left wears a dark gown. The central figures are dressed in elaborate gowns of blue, pink, and white, with long trains. One woman in a white gown extends her hand towards another woman in a pink gown, who holds a small object. Another woman in blue stands to the right, observing. The figures' clothing features rich folds and contrasting colors.
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