Formal Analysis: The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds

           In 15^th Century Italy a period known as the Early Renaissance emerged, which was influenced by humanism, illusionism, and a rebirth of classical history. Artists celebrated human achievement and worked to create realistic paintings that correctly illustrated perception and depth. In Florence, a painter named Domenico Ghirlandaio was commissioned to create a large fresco and altarpiece for the Sassetti family burial chapel in the church of Santa Trinita, Florence.  The altarpiece, the Nativity and Adoration of the Sheperds, depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child surrounded by shepherds and animals. In the background, a large group of people approaches the nativity from a winding road, traveling from cities in the distance. Ghirlandaio utilizes illusionism, historia, and humanism to captivate the viewer and create a realistic depiction of this biblical scene.

            Both atmospheric and linear perspective are used to correctly represent depth in the painting of the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds. The colors in the foreground of the painting are clear and bright while the colors in the background are dull and have a bluish tinge. The sky fades from a rich blue to an off white when it reaches the mountaintop. This technique, known as atmospheric perspective, uses color and saturation to show depth similarly to the way we perceive distance in the real world. Domenico Ghirlandaio also utilized linear perspective, which creates the illusion that the background is receding into a vanishing point. The road curving along the left side of the painting leads the eye back to the vanishing point. The combination of atmospheric and linear perspective creates an incredibly realistic image that is similar to a mirror, allowing the viewer to look into and experience the nativity scene.

            To influence his viewers Domenico Ghirlandaio utilized a theory known as historie. Historie is a narrative painting that instructs the viewer in a pleasurable way. Ghirlandaio includes many different figures to interest viewers such as the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the shepherds, and the large group of people approaching the nativity.  Throughout the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds, these people are shown in different poses and various movements. In earlier artwork different people were usually represented very similarly and without much variation. However, in the Early Renaissance, the positions of people became incredibly dramatic. Ghirlandaio used new representations of motion within the altarpiece to express emotion and illustrate individuality among figures. The people represented in this painting vary in size, shape, and color, making them more realistic and adding validity to the narrative. Ghirlandaio also incorporated a figure in communication with the viewer, which is a central aspect of histories. The shepherd to the right of the manger is pointing to the baby, showing that the Christ Child is the most important feature of the painting. In addition, the Virgin Mary and the other Shepherds are gazing directly at the baby Jesus, supporting that the focus is on him.

            The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds also illustrates an interest in humanism that was prevalent throughout the Early Renaissance. The theory of humanism first gained popularity in the classical era but was revived by artists and intellectuals in the 15^th century. Domenico Ghirlandaio incorporates aspects of classical history, such as the pillars with Corinthian capitals and the ancient sarcophagus, as a way to commemorate the achievements of humans throughout history. The people represented in this painting are very idealized forms, which references the search for perfection throughout the Classical Era. Although the Virgin Mary looks quite realistic she is still very idealized because of her astonishing beauty and flawless appearance. This perfection enforces the biblical story that Mary remains pure and a virgin even after she gives birth to the Christ Child. The shepherds show some signs of aging like gray hair and a few wrinkles but overall their features also represent perfection.

The Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds incorporates many important aspects of Early Renaissance such as illusionism, historie, humanism and an influence from the Classical Era. Throughout this period, artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio experimented with numerous techniques to create realistic artwork that would fascinate and amaze viewers for centuries. These ideas from the 15^th century were later combined and expanded to create the magnificent artwork of the High Renaissance.