Something Beautiful

Christmas (Ghirlandaio)

Here is a longtime Christmas favorite -- Domenico Ghirlandaio's Adoration of the Magi, 1488.   I especially like the angels, and the musical notes, near the top.  -- Adoration of the Magi.

(Here's a close-up  of the angels.)

(And here are many more details from the painting.)

Note: This painting is more than nine feet tall!  and approximately 8 feet wide. 

Mourning Mary Magdalene

This portrait of a grieving Mary Magdalene  is unusual for the close attention paid to her face and expression.   The detail and sumptuousness of her clothing are also remarkable.   This painting was done by Colijn de Coter c. 1500.  It hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary.  

Francia

Madonna and Child with Saints Francis and Jerome, ca. 1500, by Francesco Francia

Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Magi

One of my favorite Chrismas artworks -- Adoration of the Magi, by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1488.

You can read about it and see some details here.

(And yes, Agony and Ecstasy devotees, Ghirlandaio was indeed Michelangelo's first teacher!)

Angel (Fra Angelico)

This Annunciatory Angel, ca. 1455, is by Fra Angelico.  Zoom in and prepare to be moved.   

Christus, Annunciation

Here's an exceptional Annunciation by Petrus Christus, at the Gemaldegalerie, Berlin. 

Master of the St Lucy Legend

This Lamentation of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, ca. 1495, by the Master of the Legend of Saint Lucy, is very fine.  You'll need to see it in close-up to appreciate its quality. 

St Dominic, by Fra Angelico

Descent to Limbo

According to the Gospel of Nicodemus, after his death Christ descended into Limbo (or to Hell) to free the righteous who had died before his coming --

• Descent to Hell, 1308-11, by Duccio
• Descent into Limbo, c. 1320, by Pietro Lorenzetti
• Descent into Limbo, 1320-25, by Giotto


• Descent of Christ to Limbo, 1365-68, by Andrea da Firenze
• Christ in Limbo, 1440s, by Friedrich Pacher
• Descent into Limbo, c. 1445, by Master of the Osservanza
• Descent to Limbo, 1555, by Cristofano Gherardi

Three works by Durer --

• Harrowing of Hell, or Christ in Limbo, 1512, by Albrecht Durer (engraving)

• Christ in Limbo, 1510, by Albrecht Durer (woodcut); Christ in Limbo, 1511, by Albrecht Durer (woodcut)

And a related theme --

• Christ appears to his mother with the Redeemed of the Old Testament, c. 1500, by Juan de Flandes

Easter