Nativity
- Artist: Spinello Aretino
- Date: 1380
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the Nativity by Spinello Aretino, painted in 1380 with tempera on panel. The scene opens with the Virgin Mary looking down serenely at her newborn son, surrounded by midwives gently bathing him. Above, angels lift their voices, announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds, who are positioned beside rocky outcrops on the right. The composition reflects the artist’s delicate handling of light and human emotion.
What makes this panel special is that it’s one of only two surviving parts of a rare double‑sided altarpiece, originally commissioned for the church in Città di Castello, close to Spinello’s hometown of Arezzo in Italy. The double‑sided nature meant the artist had to craft a cohesive narrative on both faces, a challenge Spinello met with subtle detail and balanced composition.
Notice the careful play of color—soft blues and earthy tones that convey a quiet, reverent atmosphere. The tempera medium gives the figures a luminous quality, while the panel’s wood supports a subtle depth. This work offers a glimpse into early 14th‑century Italian religious art, where the sacred was rendered with both intimacy and grandeur.
See it in person
Nativity hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
