Christmas is coming - onto Bethlehem

Salvete Omnes,

 

Giovanni Badile - Maria Gravita

Christmas is coming fast to our homes, only 5 days to Christmas' Eve - so in the spirit of Gospels I corralled some mosaics, carvings, paintings and their details from the pre-XVII century period  showing the Holy Family traveling, by donkey and with Virgin Mary very pregnant, from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

first  a medieval ivory carving - from Amalfi, then part of  the Norman Italian realm, early XII century -

Byzantine, XIV century, mosaic from  Chora church (mosque nowadays in Turkiye) - the donkey looks high bred and almost noble.

Bruegel the Elder, 1599 - The Census at Bethlehem. - details

and one more detail  from Hugo van der Goes' work (Portinari Triptych) -

enjoy

Valete