Nativity of the Virgin (Pietro Lorenzetti)

The Nativity of the Virgin is a painting by the

Nativity of the Virgin
Italian late medieval painter Pietro Lorenzetti, dating
from around 1335–1342, now housed in the Museo
dell'Opera del Duomo of Siena, Italy.

History
The painting originally decorated the altar of St.
Sabinus in the Cathedral of Siena, and had been
commissioned as part of a cycle of four altarpieces
dedicated to the city's patrons saints (St. Ansanus,
St. Sabinus of Spoleto, St. Crescentius and St.
Victor) during 1330–1350. These included the
Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus by
Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, the Presentation
at the Temple by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1342, altar
of St. Crescentius), and a Nativity, now
disassembled, attributed to Bartolomeo Bulgarini
from 1351 (altar of St. Victor). All the paintings
should represent stories of the Life of the Madonna, Artist Pietro Lorenzetti
and were crowned by Duccio di Buoninsegna's Year 1335-1342
Maestà.
Medium Tempera on panel
Dimensions 182 cm × 187 cm (72 in × 74 in)
Description
Location Museo dell'Opera del Duomo,
Siena
The work is a triptych, although the scenes are set in
the same location (an unusual feature for the time), a
room whose vaults follow the shape of the panel; the scenes, painted using a crude geometrical perspective,
are separated by two white piers in the foreground. The vaults have a starry night sky, as typical of Gothic
edifices of the time.

The left scene depicts Joachim, Mary's father, waiting together with a child and an old man. Behind him, an
opened lunette and arcade show the court of a Gothic palace. St. Anna is lying on a bed (a typical medieval
chest) in the central scene with a white drape behind, while, in the foreground, two women are washing her
daughter. A woman, wearing a red dress, is shown behind the right pier, while speaking with Anna; she
holds an inlaid object, perhaps a banner or a musical instrument. Two further women with washing
accessories appear in the right panel.

Sources
De Vecchi, Pierluigi; Elda Cerchiari (1999). I tempi dell'arte. Milan: Bompani.

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