 Advent again, greetings to all! And a timely reminder that I should be constant in hope and expectation regardless of daily circumstances. For many years it was my practice to paint a Nativity icon during Lent, whether for a commission or as a contemplation exercise. I'm not sure why I left off, but this year a commission from my friend in the US gave me the opportunity to revisit. Purists may complain that as usual I have not followed a model for this but I have painted for a person, not a principle. Many details of the Byzantine representation of the Nativity, such as midwives washing the baby, are taken from the now apocryphal (and unread) Gospel of James. And Joseph being tempted by a hairy Satan to doubts of the virgin birth - I prefer to represent him being warned in a dream to flee with his new family to a place of safety. And my angels are singing to the shepherds in Latin - anyone else hearing Steeleye Span?
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