In this piece, Murillo shows Christ as fully human.
While many painters chose to show Him as a wise or solemn young God, here he is
pictured as merely a baby—helpless, round, and entirely adorable. Mary, too,
appears more vulnerable than she is often depicted. Instead of looking like a strong, powerful
queen, she is only a girl and a mother.
Her maternal grace would be painfully incomplete without St. Joseph
standing above her and the infant Jesus, watching over his beloved family
protectively.
“And it came to pass, after the angels departed from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to
Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath
shewed to us.
And they came with haste; and they found Mary and
Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that
had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard, wondered;
and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all
these words, pondering them in her heart.”
Luke 2:15-19
