Our November Treasure of the Swope!

Treasures of the Swope

Nativity

1960

Ernest Bradfield Freed (1908 Rockville, IN – 1974 Northridge, CA)

Intaglio, with indications of drypoint

5 ¾” x 5 ¾”

Gift of Tom French

1991.020

Scenes of the nativity were born in the Italian Renaissance, an invention of St. Francis of Assisi, whose life’s-work was to make the stories in the scriptures accessible to a population not schooled in Latin. Artists became inventive, as they had to convey the complexities of church doctrine using only pictures. One of the most successful of these artists from the early Renaissance was Piero della Francesca (about 1415-1492). Piero’s Nativity is an oil painting—an experimental material at that time—resides in The National Gallery of London. Piero’s painting can be viewed here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/piero-della-francesca-the-nativity In it he drew from the environs of his hometown, Sansepolcro, to create a scene that was relatable to his contemporaries. Piero’s works provided ample fodder for students of the arts for centuries afterwards, who were inspired by the refined and meditative nature of his works, his cool color palette and geometrical compositions.