The thirteenth century remains a golden age of Western civilization, through the flourishing of theology, philosophy, pilgrimage, and art. Grand cathedrals were built in France, evoking transcendent beauty through their intricate interweaving of stone and glass, while marble sculptures appeared to defy gravity, floating above their pedestals. The shimmering pages of illuminated manuscripts invited the reader to delve into the wonders and mysteries of scripture.

In the latter half of the thirteenth century, however, the expression of beauty became more earthbound, anchored to nature and reflective of Jesus’ human experience. This shift in emphasis from celestial to terrestrial would become one driver of the dawning Renaissance, when the representation of innate human dignity and confidence in people’s perception of reality would transform the history of art.

Standing at the cusp of this new age was a small group of Italian artists led by Giotto di Bondone, whose Nativity masterfully exemplifies the iconography of this new era.