Martin Gayford

This radical Nativity is also one of the great whodunnits of art history

You can see the very birth of landscape painting in the Allendale Nativity

Religious awe combined with a sensuous pleasure in the beauty of the world: ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’, 1505–10 by Giorgione, also known as the Allendale Nativity. [National Gallery of Art Washington DC]

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Comments

A blooming good offer

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting the next 3 months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in