Many very beautiful paintings! Of note, the Ghirlandaio (#41), one of the greatest masters of the Early Italian Renaissance. The painting incorporates the journey of the Magi, seen in the distance on the winding road. Delicate beauty of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, the focal point of the painting. They are bathed in divine light emanating from within. The baby is on the edge of her mantle emphasizing the intimate relationship between mother and child and protecting him from the the small mound of wheat underneath, symbol of the Eucharist. The shepherd pointing to the child, his head turned to the other men, is a self portrait of Ghirlandaio himself. In the distance we see both Rome and Jerusalem, the two world empires, Hebrew and Roman, symbol of their power receding as the beginning of Christ’s new kingdom begins.
Thanks to you, Alba, we now have a vivid understanding of that essay-disguised-as-a-picture. The only element I’m still curious about is that imposing stone trough. Its central prominence, inscription, and size all suggest to me that Ghirlandaio intended it as a symbol of a sarcophagus, looking ahead to the far end of the earthly sojourn of the Babe.
Now, suddenly, a band of incredulous shepherds shows up, unannounced. Yes, Mary was worshiping Emmanuel, as the rest of the pictures are careful to note. But Champaigne registers her focus on this unexpected intrusion that all but declares, "Your lives will never be the same." Now, I wish I had gathered the handful of images which show her noticing the shepherds, and put them together at the end.