Birth of Christ, Mystical Nativity by Botticelli

Birth of Christ (Mystic Birth or Mystical Nativity) (1500) by Sandro Botticelli is a vintage fine art religious painting featuring a Christmas nativity scene. Mary Magdalene is watching over the infant baby Jesus Christ while Joseph is sleeping. The three men kneeling to the left of the stable are the Magi, the men kneeling to the right are the shepherds. At the bottom the angels are hugging men, they are holding olive branches while the men are wearing olive crowns; a symbol of peace. The heavens over the stable have opened, allowing the golden light of paradise to shine down on the celebration of the birth of the newborn king. Banners in Latin read Glory to God in Heaven. The inscription at the top is in Greek. About the artist: Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510) was an Italian painter of the Florentine school during the Early Renaissance.