Sevillian school of the XVII century

Sevillian school; XVII century.
"Nativity.
Oil on canvas.
Presents added period cloth in the upper margin.
Measurements: 106.5 x 166.5 cm; 136 x 195.5 cm (frame).
The canvas offers us a dynamic and multitudinous Nativity. In the center of the composition is the Virgin, of youthful and delicate aspect, dressed with pink tunic and mantle. The Virgin holds the Child in her hands, with his head surrounded by a luminous nimbus. A large number of figures are clustered around her. A surprised St. Joseph who approaches his hands towards the Child. The scene is completed with the presence of a multitude of winged angels. The upper part of the composition is dedicated to the angelic world. Putti and young angels appear between wide cloud breaks, witnessing the scene that takes place below. The type of composition, as well as the effective illumination, with marked chiaroscuro, is in keeping with the Andalusian school of the first half of the 18th century.
The 17th century marked the arrival of the Baroque in the Sevillian school, with the triumph of naturalism over Mannerist idealism, loose workmanship and many other aesthetic liberties. At this time the school reached its greatest splendor, both for the quality of the works and for the primordial rank of Sevillian Baroque painting. Thus, during the transition to Baroque we find Juan del Castillo, Antonio Mohedano and Francisco Herrera el Viejo, in whose works the rapid brushstroke and the crude realism of the style is already manifested, and Juan de Roelas, introducer of Venetian colorism. In the middle of the century, the period reached its peak, with figures such as Zurbarán, a young Alonso Cano and Velázquez. Finally, in the last third of the century we find Murillo and Valdés Leal, founders in 1660 of an Academy where many of the painters active during the first quarter of the 18th century were trained, such as Meneses Osorio, Sebastián Gómez, Lucas Valdés and others.