Anonymous: The birth of Christ (ca. 1485); Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

For those who love Christmas: Happy Xmas! For those who hate it: good luck...

Either way, I'd like to show you a carved group from the Rijksmuseum collection, depicting the birth of Christ. Apart from Jesus himself we recognize the Virgin Mary, Joseph and two shepherds. The company is completed by three angels plus the ox and ass.
The best thing about this wonderfully carved group from 1485 is that the original paint and gilding are still there, which is rather rare.