FRAGMENT OF THE NATIVITY ALTARPIECE

STYLE 

Analysis of style suggests work was carried out that particularly affected the lower part of the scene, as may be appreciated in the hands of Mary, the expression on her face and in the treatment of her hair. The figure of Saint Joseph, with its wavy hair and beard, is much more expressive. The folds of the right sleeve of his robe have also been executed in a rather peculiar fashion that seems to have been inspired by other carved figures belonging to the cathedral.

The upper section is truer to Flemish style with its small, very expressive figures and the treatment dispensed to the bone structure of eyebrows, cheekbones and prominent chins, large eyes, short, slightly upturned noses and half-opened mouths. Fingers are long and thin. Though garments do not have a profusion of folds, the few folds there are seem to merge together to form wide, deep folds with sharply-defined edges facing in different directions.

Special mention must be made of the extremely natural way in which flora and fauna are depicted and of the artist's excellent taste for anecdotal detail.