The Nativity

"Nativity with a Portrait of Cardinal Jean Roulin" is a 1480 religious painting created using tempera on wood. Likely attributed to Jean Hey, formerly known as the Master of Moulins, it is his earliest surviving work. This masterpiece depicts the nativity scene with detailed tenderness, reflecting the Northern renaissance style. Commissioned by Cardinal Jean Roulin three years before his death, the painting also features the cardinal’s portrait, blending religious themes with personal patrimony. Today, it resides in the musée Rolin, highlighting its significance within the tradition of religious painting.