Lot 1012 Dα

The iconography of this painting with the depiction of the birth of Christ in an enclosed garden surrounded by dancing shepherds is most remarkable. The centre of the composition shows the intimate event of the birth, the enthroned Virgin with the Child, Joseph and the midwife mentioned in the apocryphal Gospels. Whereas the traditional iconography depicts the shepherds as timid adoring witnesses, in this painting a jolly celebration takes place. The peasants and shepherds are dancing around the fence, eating and singing along merrily to the bagpipes. On the top we can read in Latin: “A Child is born to us”, and the other banners show song texts. These are in Dutch and have been deciphered. A translation is available. The language of the banners as well as the style of the figures indicate the origin of the painting to be in the Netherlands, its agitated style being typical for the late-gothic mannerism of this region.