Christmas on Canvas

Dutch Artists

Portinari Altarpiece Hugo van der Goes

Dutch artist Hugo van der Goes created this artwork which became one of the most famous Christmas paintings in history. The artist was known for creating religious scenes and had been commissioned to paint altarpieces. This artwork was done as the altarpiece for the chapel inside the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence, Italy. Today it can be viewed at the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. This painting focuses on the Nativity as well as the Adoration of the Shepherds.

The Census at Bethlehem Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder was among the most celebrated artists of the Flemish Renaissance. He mostly created landscapes. This painting was done in 1566. It features a lot of snow all around. The artwork depicts Mary and Joseph, the parents of Baby Jesus with many townspeople all around.

Snow at Argenteuil Claude Monet

French artist Claude Monet is known as the Father of the Impressionist movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is known for his landscapes and cityscapes. This artwork is considered a highly-revered Christmas painting completed in 1875. The painting depicts a heavy snowfall on Argenteuil, in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France where Monet lived at one time. The winter of 1875 was especially harsh bringing a thick blanket of snow around the Christmas holiday.

Winter Landscape Caspar David Friedrich

German Romantic landscape artist Caspar David Friedrich is remembered as one of the most famous landscape artists in history. This artwork was created in 1811 and is among his most famous paintings. The painting depicts a heavy blanket of snow with dark clouds swirling overhead. All around is a stark barren winter landscape.

The Adoration of the Shepherds El Greco

Spanish artist El Greco was among the most prolific artists from 17th century Spain. Like other Baroque artists, he portrayed religious scenes showing a high contrast between light and dark signifying good and evil. This artwork is among his most celebrated. It was created in 1614 depicting a dark Nativity scene with the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the three shepherds illuminated by a light that seems to radiate from the Baby Jesus, Angels are seen hovering above.

Italian Artists

The Sistine Madonna Raphael

Italian artist Raphael was among the most talented artists of the Italian Renaissance. He was known for paintings relating to Christianity. This artwork is among his most celebrated. It was created in 1514. The painting was done on a large canvas and depicts the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus walking on a cloud. On her right is Saint Sixtus and on her left is Saint Barbara two prominent religious figures in the 3rd century. Two small, winged cherubs lie at the Virgin Mary’s feet.

The Mystical Nativity Sandro Botticelli

Italian artist Sandro Botticelli was a celebrated Renaissance artist. In this artwork, he focuses on the nativity scene when Christ was born in a manger outside an inn in Bethlehem. It was completed in 1501 during the height of the Italian Renaissance. In the painting, Baby Jesus is lying in a trough filled with hay as the Virgin Mary looks down upon him and Joseph sits with his head in his arms. Many angels surround them.

The Adoration of the Shepherds Caravaggio

Italian painter Caravaggio is remembered as one of the most gifted artists of the Baroque period. Many of his artworks centered around religious settings. Among the most famous is this painting depicting the Nativity scene. Completed in 1609 the artwork depicts the three shepherds adoring the infant Jesus. Joseph can be seen behind them and a light appears to be shining from behind the Virgin Mary into the dark manger.

Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence Caravaggio

Italian painter Caravaggio created this artwork in 1600 and it is one of his most famous paintings which relate to the Christmas season. It depicts the Nativity scene with two prominent religious figures of the early 17th century St. Francis and St, Lawrence. This painting depicts a heavy display of light and darkness. In 1969 the painting was stolen from the Oratory of Saint Lawrence in Palermo, Italy, and remains missing to this day.