# No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity: Birth of Christ [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [GIOTTO di Bondone]() - Date: 1301-1350 - Technique: Fresco, 200 x 185 cm ## Commentary No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity: Birth of Christ 1304-06 Fresco, 200 x 185 cm Cappella Scrovegni \(Arena Chapel\), Padua The simple shelter under which the Virgin and her Child seek refuge is situated in the middle of a bleak rocky landscape. Mary turns on her side on the bed in order to receive the new-born baby from the arms of a midwife — a natural and spontaneous gesture, which is captured by the way mother and child look at one another. Although on the periphery, this exchange of glances seems to be the actual centre of the portrayal, which is expanded to include the scene of the Annunciation to the shepherds. ## Related artworks - [Allegory of Chastity \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Chastity \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Chastity \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Obedience \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Obedience \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Poverty \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Poverty \(detail\)]() - [Allegory of Poverty \(detail\)]() - [Apocalyptic Christ]() - [Ascension of Christ]() - [Badia Polyptych]() - [Baroncelli Polyptych: Coronation of the Virgin]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()