Southern Italian Follower of Polidoro da Caravaggio, circa 1540

Paul (1902-1998) and Helen (1908-1993) Bernat, Boston (bears their collectors mark, not in Lugt),

their sale, New York, Christie's, 11 January 1994, lot 256 (as North (?) Italian School, circa 1560)

The Nativity is here depicted taking place in front of the ruins of a grand classical building in the center of the composition, a pair of columns - the one to the left of St. Joseph broken - framing the scene to each side. The introduction of antique ruins as the background to the Nativity is not unusual; these are often incorporated into the scene as a reminder of the origins of Christianity, and of Christ's triumph over paganism represented by a crumbling ancient world, with all its lost grandeur. Here, in the background to the left an angel announces the great event to a shepherd, while to the right two more shepherds are already heading for Christ's birthplace, carrying their sheep through a wood.

In technique and style the present drawing is very reminiscent of Polidoro da Caravaggio's works from the later phase of his career. After the Sack of Rome in 1527, he fled first to Naples and then to Messina, where his style greatly influenced many of his contemporaries, and also subsequent generations of artists working in the South of Italy.

Philip Pouncey, in a note on the old mount (now lost), suggested that the drawing was South Italian and related to the style of Polidoro.¹

^1.Information recorded in the 1994 Christie's sale catalogue (see Provenance)