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Jacopo Tintoretto “The Nativity”

The Nativity, by Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti), painted in the late 1550s and

reworked in the 1570s, is the pictorial representation of Joseph and Mary kneeling before the

Jesus after his birth, who is sleeping in a woven basket of straw and sticks1. The tale story in the

painting is told through composition, mood, movement, color, contrast, and balance. Jacopo's

style in The Nativity is characterized by the figures, gestures, and perspective of mannerism or

the late renaissance between the 1530s to late 16th century and the early baroque period at the

start of the 17th century. The Nativity is an example of artwork marking the period of the late

renaissance or mannerism and early baroque style. The Baroque style used movement, contrast,

deep color, surprise, exuberant detail, and grandeur to portray a sense of awe.

Joseph is touching fingers together in prayer. Joseph is also holding a stick like the sticks

that make the basket, and two knives in a sheath lie on his lap. Mary is pressing her hands over

her heart. The stable is made with thatch over the crude timber supports, and the blanket

covering the baby is patched and ragged. Perhaps Joseph had cut the sticks with the shown knife

and made the basket himself.

In composition, the painting seems uneven in quality and does not seem quite right for a

Nativity scene2. It is unusually complicated because the Tintoretto had added the lower section of
1
Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-
nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06.
2
Strickland, Carol, and John Boswell. The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to
Post-Modern. Ed. Patty Brown. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Andrews McMeel, 2007, 44 Introduction
 Surname2

a painting he had made around twenty years earlier. The art was completed in the late 1570s,

which was a period that marked the start of the development of the Baroque period. Having been

started in the late 1550s, or years in the late renaissance period or mannerism, the painting is

composed of two different periods of art. The lower section made twenty years earlier seems to

be noticeably different from the top section, which demonstrates the difference in periods when

the painting was made. The two female figures of an older woman, probably Saint Anne and the

Virgin Mary, were added from the vertical Crucifixion painting, while an assistant added the

sketchy background scenes, demonstrating the annunciation to the Shepherds and the Journey of

the Magi when the canvas was changed into a horizontal format3. The various additions from

various events detailing the nativity story of Christ form a coherent whole despite the balance in

quality and symmetry being uneven.

The color of the artwork includes unique color choices. Brown, white and blue

dominates the central figures of the painting, while most of the painting is dark. These colors

demonstrate different moods of the events leading to the Nativity story of Christ. Jesus is

covered with a white robe. White in the mannerism and baroque period signified purity and

cleanliness. The red color of Joseph and Mary's robes signified excitement and intensity. Joseph

and Mary are also covered in blue, reflecting tranquility and peace. The birth of Jesus offered

them calmness and serenity as denoted by the color. The dark background signified power,

sophistication, and even the impending death through the Crucifixion of Christ. The late

renaissance or mannerism and baroque period color pallet featured greater competence in

rendering shade and light and preferred opulent colors. The Nativity's technique or medium was

oil on a canvas. Oil painting was one of the developments of the late renaissance period (Jacopo

3
Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-
nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06
 Surname3

Tintoretto). It gave a greater understanding of perspective, while the depth provided greater

realism in the picture plane. Oil colors' natural plasticity and luminosity provided new color

effects and realism. Tintoretto was one of the painters popularly known for oil painting during

this period.

The mood in this canvas indicates happiness, celebration, and joy 4. The focal point of the

artwork is Jesus lying on the basket. The two women and Joseph are looking toward Jesus. The

painting creates a sense of calmness. With Joseph crossing his hands against his body and Mary

pressing her hands together against her chest, there is an indication of serenity and tranquility.

The other woman is also looking curiously at Jesus, indicating a sense of adoration and

appreciation. The inclusion of the lamb and the dove, all white, showcases peace, love, and

innocence. Another animal addition is the rabbit and the dog lying on the lower side, just below

Jesus. Dogs represent fidelity and seductiveness, while rabbits represent fertility and purity,

which can be in reference to the birth of Christ. The journey of the Magi, represented in the top

left, was the journey of the wise men from the East traveling to witness the birth of Jesus and pay

homage5. The representation sets a celebration mood, a mood of joy and happiness. The top right

corner shows the annunciation of the birth of Christ to the Shepherds in the wilderness. The

shepherds looked mesmerized and awestruck with the annunciation of the birth. The

representation, therefore, sets a celebration mood of joy and happiness.

In the mannerism and early baroque periods, they aimed for imperfection, which can be

illustrated through the lack of balance in the paint. The art has two additions from the central and

main concept of the birth of Christ. The two sketch background additions, the Journey of the

4
Strickland, Carol, and John Boswell. The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to
Post-Modern. Ed. Patty Brown. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Andrews McMeel, 2007., 45 Introuction
5
Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-
nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06.
 Surname4

Magi and the Annunciation to the Shepherds, strike this imbalance6. The additions do not create

a visual equilibrium because the central point of the art seems heavier than the other parts,

especially the additions. There is a difference in the visual weight of art elements, especially in

shape, space, texture, value, and color7. The space and shape especially highlight the difference

in the visual weight of the additions. The art gives more detail to the family of Christ, his birth,

and the various symbolizations surrounding his birth. This is because the birth of Jesus is the

focal point or the bigger objective of the Nativity. The two additions are not as detailed as the

central figures, demonstrating significant differences and imbalance in the artwork.

Movement, primarily through the two additions of the Journey of the Magi and the

Annunciation to the shepherds, is essential in describing the Nativity. The kings from the East

were coming to Bethlehem to pay homage to the birth of Christ, while the shepherds got the

news from the angels. These movements mark the celebration of Jesus and anticipation of the life

ahead of him.

In the Bible, Jesus is portrayed to be of purity, gentleness, holiness, and to be the Savior

of men. In the representations of the Nativity, there is the lamb and the love, which demonstrate

these qualities as seen in the life of Jesus. While prophesying the Birth of Jesus, John the Baptist

had called him the Lamb of God because he was too holy and wonderful. The presence of the

lamb near Jesus, while he is lying in the basket, is a foreshadowing or foretelling of the qualities

and characteristics and the legacy that was before him8. Lambs were also used as sacrifices to

6
Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-
nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06.
7
Strickland, Carol, and John Boswell. The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to
Post-Modern. Ed. Patty Brown. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Andrews McMeel, 2007. 46, Introduction
8
Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-
nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06.
 Surname5

God before the birth of Christ. This demonstrates the life of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice who

gave himself up for humankind for their salvation.

The scenery of the birth of Jesus shows he was born in a stable and laid in a manger

covered with thatched grass. The scenery indicates the humbleness of Christ and the humbleness

of his background, which characterizes the characteristics of Christ in the rest of Luke's gospel.

The humble features mark the Nativity story of Jesus, where he was born, and what family he

was born into. Joseph was a carpenter, and Mary served as a consecrated virgin in the Temple of

Jerusalem. In conjunction with the humble Nativity story of Jesus, the celebration with the Wise

men from the East bearing gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold by following a star to

Bethlehem indicates that Jesus was the King of Jews and the Savior of men.

Conclusively, the painting is about the start of the life of Christ and an illustration of who

he was and would be as the Messiah. Tintoretto's The Nativity emphasizes the figure of Christ as

the humble king born to a humble family and yet known to be the king of Jews. The artist's

choice of the humble story demonstrates Christianity's worldview of humbleness and salvation.

According to the gospel of Mathew, those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who

shall humble themselves will be exalted. The life of Jesus follows this premise after he

conquered death. It is also the way of life, as humble leaders are exalted and appreciated.
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Works Cited

Jacopo Tintoretto. "The Nativity Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)". The Nativity-Works-

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32992/the-

nativity;jsessionid=1CA8D67614DA55EF2007AE000A08EF06.

Strickland, Carol, and John Boswell. The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History

from Prehistoric to Post-Modern. Ed. Patty Brown. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Andrews

McMeel, 2007.