Photography by Edward C. Robison III
Humble Birth
A mother rests after giving birth in a stable. Her newborn baby lies in a manger while friends and family arrive to celebrate. Roger Medearis painted this modern scene to parallel the biblical story of Jesus's birth. In doing so, he emphasizes the dignity of even the humblest beginnings. Medearis painted this scene during the Great Depression, a period when many could not afford a place to live.
ArtistRoger Medearis, 1920–2001
Date1941
MediumTempera and oil on board
Dimensions21 1/4 x 19 3/8 x 2 1/4 in.
Signedl.c.: Medearis 41
Inscription(s)verso, in paint: Humble Birth / egg tempera / and oil / Roger Medearis / 1941
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2010.47
ClassificationPainting
ProvenanceEstate of Himan Brown, New York, NY; to (Sotheby's, New York, NY), September 29, 2010, lot 193; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2010
On ViewNo
This artwork's face covers about 56× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.