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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Fra Angelico · c. 1442–1443
- Medium
- Fresco
- Collection
- Convent of San Marco, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
The First Christmas · Complete Online Art Gallery
75 masterpieces tell one sacred story.
Follow the Christmas story through seven chapters and five centuries of Old Master art. Every gallery label identifies the artist, date, medium, collection, Scripture passage, and the visual story within the work.
75Curated works
in story order
How to Experience the Gallery
Begin with Gabriel’s greeting. End beneath the stars on the road to Egypt.
These paintings are not illustrations in a single style. Medieval gold, Renaissance perspective, Venetian color, Northern detail, and Baroque light each reveal a different way artists have contemplated the Incarnation. Look for repeated symbols—the lily, ruined architecture, divine light, humble animals, royal gifts, and the long road of pilgrimage.
Chapter 01
Luke 1:26–56
The Annunciation and Visitation
The Christmas story begins before Bethlehem: with Gabriel’s message, Mary’s faithful response, and the joyful meeting of Mary and Elizabeth.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Leonardo da Vinci · c. 1472–1476
- Medium
- Oil and tempera on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation with Saint Margaret and Saint Ansanus
Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi · 1333
- Medium
- Tempera and gold on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Jan van Eyck · c. 1434–1436
- Medium
- Oil on panel transferred to canvas
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Cestello Annunciation
Sandro Botticelli · 1489
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation of Recanati
Lorenzo Lotto · c. 1534
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo Civico Villa Colloredo Mels, Recanati
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Titian · c. 1559–1564
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Church of San Salvador, Venice
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
El Greco · c. 1570–1575
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1660–1665
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Fra Filippo Lippi · c. 1449–1459
- Medium
- Egg tempera on wood
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 1:26–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Visitation
The Visitation
Fra Angelico · c. 1433–1434
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Museo Diocesano, Cortona
- Scripture
- Luke 1:39–45
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Visitation
The Visitation
Domenico Ghirlandaio · 1491
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Musée du Louvre, Paris
- Scripture
- Luke 1:39–45
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Visitation
The Visitation
Jacopo Pontormo · c. 1528–1530
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Parish Church of Carmignano, Tuscany
- Scripture
- Luke 1:39–45
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Visitation
The Visitation
Raphael and workshop · c. 1517
- Medium
- Oil on panel transferred to canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 1:39–45
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Visitation
The Visitation
Rembrandt van Rijn · 1640
- Medium
- Oil on wood
- Collection
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Scripture
- Luke 1:39–45
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 02
Matthew 1:18–25 · Luke 2:1–5
Joseph’s Dream and the Road to Bethlehem
Joseph receives reassurance, the decree sets the journey in motion, and the Holy Family enters the crowded world in which Christ will be born.
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Joseph’s Dream
The Dream of Saint Joseph
Georges de La Tour · c. 1640
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nantes
- Scripture
- Matthew 1:20–24
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Joseph’s Dream
The Dream of Saint Joseph
Philippe de Champaigne · c. 1642–1643
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Matthew 1:20–24
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Census
The Census at Bethlehem
Pieter Bruegel the Elder · 1566
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels
- Scripture
- Luke 2:1–5
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Arrival and Nativity
The Portinari Altarpiece
Hugo van der Goes · c. 1475–1478
- Medium
- Oil on wood
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 2:1–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Robert Campin, Master of Flémalle · c. 1420–1425
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 03
Luke 2:6–7
The Birth of Jesus
Artists imagine the mystery of God entering human life in poverty: a child laid in a manger, watched over by Mary and Joseph.
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The Nativity
Nativity: The Birth of Jesus
Giotto di Bondone · c. 1303–1305
- Medium
- Fresco
- Collection
- Scrovegni Chapel, Padua
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel
Duccio di Buoninsegna · 1308–1311
- Medium
- Tempera and gold on panel
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Piero della Francesca · c. 1470–1475
- Medium
- Oil on poplar
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
Mystic Nativity
Sandro Botticelli · 1500
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity at Night
Geertgen tot Sint Jans · c. 1490
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Petrus Christus · c. 1450
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Bladelin Triptych
Rogier van der Weyden · c. 1445–1450
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- Gemäldegalerie, Berlin
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Lorenzo Lotto · 1523
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Holy Night
The Adoration of the Shepherds, called La Notte
Correggio · c. 1522–1530
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
- Scripture
- Luke 2:8–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Federico Barocci · 1597
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence
Caravaggio · 1609
- Medium
- Oil on canvas; lost masterpiece
- Collection
- Formerly Oratory of San Lorenzo, Palermo
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Albrecht Altdorfer · c. 1513
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Gemäldegalerie, Berlin
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Albrecht Dürer · 1504
- Medium
- Engraving
- Collection
- The Life of the Virgin series
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–7
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Guido Reni · c. 1640–1642
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Church of San Martino, Naples
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Nativity
The Nativity from the Armadio degli Argenti
Fra Angelico · c. 1451–1453
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Museo Nazionale di San Marco, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 2:6–14
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 04
Luke 2:8–20
The Angels and the Shepherds
Heaven’s announcement reaches ordinary laborers first. Light, music, astonishment, and humble worship fill these scenes.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Domenico Ghirlandaio · 1485
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Sassetti Chapel, Santa Trinita, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Giorgione · c. 1505–1510
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Andrea Mantegna · shortly after 1450
- Medium
- Tempera on canvas transferred from wood
- Collection
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
El Greco · 1612–1614
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Georges de La Tour · c. 1644
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Musée du Louvre, Paris
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Peter Paul Rubens · 1608
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Pinacoteca Civica, Fermo
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Rembrandt van Rijn · 1646
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Gerard van Honthorst · 1622
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1650
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Tintoretto · 1578–1581
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Paolo Veronese · c. 1570–1575
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Jusepe de Ribera · 1650
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Musée du Louvre, Paris
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Nicolas Poussin · 1633–1634
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Le Nain brothers · c. 1640
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Jacob Jordaens · 1618
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Agnolo Bronzino · 1539–1540
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Dosso Dossi · c. 1530–1535
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Galleria Borghese, Rome
- Scripture
- Luke 2:15–20
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 05
Matthew 2:1–12
The Wise Men Follow the Star
Kings, scholars, travelers, and entire processions cross the world of the painting to offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Gentile da Fabriano · 1423
- Medium
- Tempera and gold on wood
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Sandro Botticelli · c. 1475–1476
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Leonardo da Vinci · 1481–1482
- Medium
- Charcoal, ink, and oil on panel; unfinished
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Albrecht Dürer · 1504
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi Triptych
Hieronymus Bosch · c. 1494
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Andrea Mantegna · c. 1495–1505
- Medium
- Distemper on linen
- Collection
- J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi · c. 1440–1460
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Domenico Ghirlandaio · 1488
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Peter Paul Rubens · 1609; enlarged 1628–1629
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Diego Velázquez · 1619
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Kings
Pieter Bruegel the Elder · 1564
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Kings
Jan Gossaert · 1510–1515
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- The National Gallery, London
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
Saint Columba Altarpiece: Adoration of the Magi
Rogier van der Weyden · c. 1455
- Medium
- Oil on oak
- Collection
- Alte Pinakothek, Munich
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi
Hans Memling · c. 1479–1480
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:1–12
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 06
Luke 2:22–38
The Presentation in the Temple
Simeon and Anna recognize the promised child. The private wonder of Bethlehem enters the public and sacred space of the Temple.
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The Presentation
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Giotto di Bondone · c. 1303–1305
- Medium
- Fresco
- Collection
- Scrovegni Chapel, Padua
- Scripture
- Luke 2:22–35
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Presentation
The Presentation in the Temple
Ambrogio Lorenzetti · 1342
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- Scripture
- Luke 2:22–38
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Presentation
The Presentation at the Temple
Andrea Mantegna · c. 1454
- Medium
- Tempera on canvas
- Collection
- Gemäldegalerie, Berlin
- Scripture
- Luke 2:22–35
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Presentation
The Presentation at the Temple
Giovanni Bellini · c. 1460
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Collection
- Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice
- Scripture
- Luke 2:22–35
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Simeon’s Song
Simeon’s Song of Praise
Rembrandt van Rijn · 1631
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Mauritshuis, The Hague
- Scripture
- Luke 2:25–35
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
Chapter 07
Matthew 2:13–15
The Flight into Egypt
The Christmas story closes with danger, protection, and exile as Joseph leads Mary and Jesus toward safety beneath a vast and watchful sky.
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The Flight into Egypt
The Flight into Egypt
Giotto di Bondone · c. 1303–1305
- Medium
- Fresco
- Collection
- Scrovegni Chapel, Padua
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:13–15
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Rest on the Flight
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Caravaggio · c. 1597
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Collection
- Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:13–15
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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The Flight into Egypt
The Flight into Egypt
Adam Elsheimer · 1609
- Medium
- Oil on copper
- Collection
- Alte Pinakothek, Munich
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:13–15
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
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Rest on the Flight
Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Joachim Patinir · c. 1515–1524
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Collection
- Museo del Prado, Madrid
- Scripture
- Matthew 2:13–15
Click the artwork to explore its meaning and story.
The First Christmas
Seventy-five works. One journey of faith, wonder, and hope.
The traveling exhibition brings these stories together as a museum-style experience for families and communities.
Bring the exhibition to your community