Lot number 530 - Auction 138
FEINE UND GROSSE IKONE MIT DER GEBURT CHRISTI

A FINE AND LARGE ICON SHOWING THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST Cretan, early 16th century Tempera on wood panel. Against an elaborate mountain setting, the Virgin reclines upon a red pallet at the mouth of a cave, in which the swaddled infant can be seen within His crib, attended by a cow and an ass. In the right foreground two serving women preparing a bath for the Child, one of them testing the water with her hand, in the left foreground Joseph sits in discussion with a shepherd dressed from head to toe in sheepskin. Finely executed on gold ground. The right lower corner damaged, wearings, areas of old retouching. 40.4 x 31 cm.