Leaf from a Book of Hours: The Nativity (recto) and Text (verso), c. 1430. Northeastern France, 15th century. Ink, tempera and gold on vellum; leaf: 17 x 12.5 cm (6 11/16 x 4 15/16 in.). Representing God's entry into the world, the Nativity remains one of medieval painting's most poignant Christian images. In the Gospels, only Matthew and Luke directly described this event. Perhaps the brevity and absence of detail in these texts allowed artists to devote so much creativity to amplifying the Christmas story. This miniature's simplicity makes it compelling. Only the three principalsMary, Joseph, and the newly born Christ Childappear in the scene. The Virgin kneels before an elegant canopied bed made sumptuous by a richly embroidered textile, which stands in contrast to the nearby rustic fence and receding landscape. This scene probably follows the mystical visions of Saint Bridget of Sweden who visited Bethlehem in 1370, and whose written accounts circulated widely after her canoniza