The Birth of Christ

Schaufelein was a German painter of portraits and religious subjects, and a woodcut designer, pupil and follower of D�rer.

In his early period the artist painted several versions of this subject. A characteristic feature of these paintings is the column behind the figure of Mary. Both this painting and its companion-piece representing the Circumcision of Christ are based on engravings of D�rer. The two panels were perhaps the wings of a diptych intended for private devotion.