FRAGMENT OF THE NATIVITY ALTARPIECE

ICONOGRAPHY 

The altarpiece's pictorial narration focuses on two passages from the Infancy of Christ. In the first, we can see the kneeling figures of Mary and Saint Joseph as they adore the Holy Infant laying on a cloth on top of a cushion. Mary, who is wearing a crossed headdress, places one hand on top of the other on her bosom. The figure of Saint Joseph leans on his crook. A large, rustic stable contains the figures of an ox and a mule eating from a manger.

As is traditional with Flemish altarpieces, another scene is simultaneously taking place on the roof of the stable: in this case it is the Annunciation of the Angel to the Shepherds (missing today). The three figures raise their sight towards Heaven and the figure on the right also outstretches his arms upwards in a gesture of worship. One of the figures to the left carrying a set of pipes removes the hood of his robe, uncovering his head, and the third, very dynamic  figure appears to be struggling to stand up with the help of his walking-stick while holding a horn in his left hand. Two dogs, a flock of sheep, goats and rams grazing among the crags accompany the figures.