Three great paintings for Advent and Christmas

The Annunciation, 

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by Henry Ossawa Tanner, American (but he painted in France), Picture was painted in Paris, France in 1898.  Tanner painted The Annunciation after returning from a trip to Palestine.  Mary is wearing conventional peasant clothing, wrinkled and without any adornment. That is soon coming.  Gabriel is there too speaking to Mary, but he is enveloped by the brilliance of the star that would soon guide the Magi. The picture is in the collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art where it has been since being purchased in 1899.

 Journey of the Magi, by James Tissot, c. 1894

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The picture is at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Star of Bethlehem

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by Sir Edward Burne-Jones depicting the Adoration of the Magi with an angel holding the star of Bethlehem. The Star of Bethlehem was the largest watercolour of the 19th century. It was completed in 1890 and was first exhibited in 1891.

The painting is at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham, England.