natività
Bernardino Luini·c. 1507
Historical Context
Nativity from around 1507 by Luini is an early treatment of the birth of Christ, showing the young painter developing his devotional style under the powerful influence of Leonardo da Vinci's Milanese work Oil on canvas, increasingly preferred over panel in the sixteenth century, offered greater flexibility for large-scale compositions. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays Leonardesque sfumato and gentle modeling, serene Madonna types with downcast eyes, soft transitions of light and shade, lyrical landscape backgrounds.
Technical Analysis
The early work reveals Luini absorbing Leonardo's sfumato technique, the sacred figures rendered with soft, luminous modeling within a warmly lit composition.
