Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609-1664) The Nativity with God the Father c. 1650 - 60, red-brown oil paint

Castiglione dealt with the subject of the Nativity many times, but this rendering is unusual due to the closeness with which God and his cherubs crowd in on the Virgin and Child.

It is also unusual in that Castiglione has replaced Joseph with God the Father. As God hovers behind the Virgin and Child, with his arms outstretched, he is protecting them when the Christ Child is most fragile. The Madonna is depicted with her cloak covering those in front of her - to protect them from earthly ills.