The Nativity of Christ: unique collection of Russian religious painting

The nativity of Christ, icon in the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, 1405 // Generally, religious painting were neglected in Russia. The genre of religious painting, performed by such European masters as Da Vinci, Rafael or Boticelli, here was monopolized by the church, so that "unclerical" paintings that depicted biblical scenes were totally replaced by the icon painting. Since the very beginning Russian orthodox icon was considered not as a simple image: it was a sacral object and any deviation of canon was not approved. These paintings seem to be rare examples of secular religious painting. Today all of them are devoted to the Nativity of Christ. Merry Christmas!

The Nativity of Christ, 1790

Madonna with the infant Jesus, 1807

The Angels' Visitation of the shepherds, 1839

The Nativity of Christ (Adoration of the Magi), 1847

The Visitation of the shepherds by the Angel, annunciating that the Christ was born, 1850s

Iosif's dream, 1850s

The Nativity of Christ, 1850s

The Nativity of Christ, 1890

The Nativity of Christ, 1890-1891

The fragment of mural decoration in Vladimirsky cathedral (Kiev), 1893

The Nativity of Christ, 1910

Adoration of the Magi, 1913

The Magi, 1914

The Virgin. Tenderness of the evil hearts, 1914-1915

Petrograd Madonna, 1920