Art Appreciation: Art of Christmas - Christmas images and how artists interpret the Christmas story

Beginning with the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she is to bear a child who will be God’s son, this extensively illustrated study day with WEA tutor David Brindley, looks in detail at each part of the Christmas story as imagined by artists. Fra Angelico’s agenda-setting annunciation fresco starts us on a journey of investigation. Why are the birth narratives of Jesus in only two of the four gospels? Why do the gospel accounts differ so widely? How do artists imagine the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? Giotto and Reubens give us their versions of the shepherds’ at the crib. The visit of the wise men was a favourite subject of Renaissance artists - Botticelli and Mantegna depict them , and later Rembrandt give a different interpretation. The dark story of the massacre of the innocent children by Herod is shown by Breugel, and the strange and little known legends of miracles on the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt fascinate several artists. We then look at the development of images of Santa Claus, and at the importance of Christmas cards as an art form. This richly illustrated study day is the perfect preparation for the Christmas season.