Christmas | Europe | Faith | Famous Artists | Holiday / Event | Medium | Multicultural | Oil Paint | Old Masters | Painting | People | Portraits / Self-Portraits | Realism | Religion | van Honthorst, Gerard
Light Has Come!
Light has often been used in paintings to create a focal point, as in this Nativity painting, “Adoration of the Shepherds”, by Dutch artist Gerard Van Honthorst (1622).
Religious paintings were a favorite subject of the Old Masters (trained European painters who worked between the mid 1400’s to the early 1800’s). In paintings from this time period, Jesus was often depicted with a glowing light that would radiate out from him.
The painting above is a great example of this. The light that spreads from the infant Jesus, illumines the faces of those around him, symbolic of Jesus bringing light to the world.
Merry Christmas! May your New Year be full of light, peace, and hope.
Gorgeous!