Kaisheimer Altar: Geburt Christi

Hans Holbein the Elder painted this Nativity for the Kaisheim Altar in 1502. The birth of Christ was the opening scene of the altarpiece's narrative program, setting the devotional tone for the cycle. Holbein's treatment combines the intimacy of the birth scene with the monumental scale appropriate to the abbey church setting. 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 warm tones and gentle light effects surrounding the newborn Christ. Holbein's refined technique renders the stable setting with both naturalistic detail and devotional warmth.