The Nativity

Ludovico Mazzolino painted this Nativity in 1507 in Ferrara, where his eccentric, highly detailed style made him a distinctive figure. Mazzolino specialized in small devotional panels packed with minute detail and vivid coloring, producing works that combine devotional seriousness with an almost jeweler's craftsmanship. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Mazzolino's characteristic dense detail and brilliant coloring. The small format is enriched with minutely rendered architectural and landscape elements that create a world of concentrated visual richness.