Nativity of the Virgin (del Sarto)

Nativity of the Virgin is a fresco painting by Andrea del Sarto in the Chiostro dei Voti of Santissima Annunziata in Florence. It is signed and dated in 1514, though most of the work on it is thought to have been carried out in 1513.

Nativity of the Virgin
Artist	Andrea del Sarto
Year	1513-1514
Medium	Fresco
Dimensions	410 cm × 340 cm (160 in × 130 in)
Location	Chiostro dei Voti, Santissima Annunziata, Florence

A series of documents dating to 1511-1513 document progress on the work. From them Shearman theorises that most of the painting took place in 1513. Andrea wished to leave after completing the frescoes of the life of Philip Benizi de Damiani on the opposite side of the atrium. However, the friar in charge of the frescoes, the sacristan fra Mariano dal Canto delle Macine, insisted that Andrea paint two further lunettes with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Andrea agreed, only in return for an increased payment for the final frescoes.

Like the other frescoes in the chiostro, the Nativity was detached from the wall, restored and replaced on the wall during the 1960s, which limited the damage to it from the Florence flood of 1966. The Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe of the Uffizi includes a late 16th century drawing of the fresco, attributed to Maso da San Friano (n. 6466).