Caravaggio Nativity Scenes

During Christmas week, we take a look at several of Caravaggio's depictions of the Holy Family. Note: The last slide is not universally accepted as autograph by all Caravaggio scholars.

The Adoration of the Shepherds (1609) was originally displayed in the Messina church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Padri Cappuccini (Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins). The small stable, the large animals, Mary seated on the floor and resting against the manger. Everything in this painting is designed to emphasize the humility of the Holy Family, which aligns with the focus of the Capuchin Order. With this altarpiece, Caravaggio truly hit the mark; especially when compared to the rejected Death of the Virgin painted only a few years earlier. The painting is now on display at Museo Regionale di Messina.

The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence (1609) was displayed in the Oratorio di San Lorenzo (Oratory of Saint Lawrence) in Palermo until it was stolen in 1969. This painting was created not long after the Adoration of the Shepards in Messina, but handles the subject completely differently with a more traditional composition and inclusion of the Saints Lawrence and Francis plus the Angel above the scene. Joseph is facing away from us, looking at the shepard. There is a reproduction hanging in the church now.

The Holy Family with the Infant St. John the Baptist is on display at the Met in New York. Mary looks extremely young, even younger than she does in the previous slide. Baby Jesus is holding on to her tightly as he stands on her thighs and looks down at John the Baptist, unsure as to what he's doing. Joseph is standing protectively behind Jesus and trying to stop St. John from knocking Jesus over. St John is wearing a camel skin toga, one of the many symbols artists use to identify him.

Let us know what questions or thoughts you have about these amazing masterpieces!