Birth of the Virgin, Filippo Bellini, c. 1590 - c. 1595
pen, h 386mm × w 267mm More details
This scene looks homely and friendly. In the foreground, Anna and her newborn daughter Mary are being assisted by two midwives, while a meal is being prepared in the background and a dog is given the opportunity to lick a plate clean. This late 16th-century drawing was made in a period when religious subjects were often depicted in an environment that resembled contemporary everyday life.
