Stained Glass of
Sainte-Madeleine d'Outremont
Text: Marie-Chantal Marchand
Translation: Nathalie Senecal

THE NATIVITY

This scene illustrates the birth of Christ, with Mary and Joseph surrounded by the three kings bearing gifts. Nincheri uses architectural elements such as arches to create a tension that frames the characters of this composition. He also made good use light and shadow to draw the viewer to the focal point of the scene: the Christ child.

This composition has two divergent site lines which lead the viewer through the scene. Both site lines begin in the foreground of the lower end of the window; one leads to the centre of the composition, the infant Christ, while the other leads to the background where a child watches the scene from the archway. Thus, Nincheri establishes the relationship between the Son of God and mortal man.