Temple of the Sagrada Familia: The Nativity Facade--page 2 (of four pages)

The Charity Portico
		The Annunciation The Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. (Sculptor: Jaume Busquets) Bands of the rosary go around the scene.
The Coronation of Mary Saint Joseph is below Mary on the left while Jesus crowns Mary as Queen of Heaven. The Coronation scene takes place in a kind of cave with icicles; Joseph is also present--an unusual iconographic detail, indicating a new reverence for him.
Adoration of the Magi They offer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
		The Three ages of Man? Often in art the three kings are of different ages so they can represent age, middle age, and youth. Here the first king does seem to be the oldest while the standing last king appears to be young.
Adoration of the Shepherds
Shepherd with a dog Of course, dogs are used by shepherds to control sheep but here the dog may also represent loyalty, just as the sheep held by a shepherd (above) represents innocence.

Go to page 3--Nativity Facade, Hope Portico.
Return to introduction and index for Sagrada Familia.


Work cited: Josep Maria Carandell. El Temple de la Sagrada Familia. Sant LLuís: Triangle Postals S. L., 1997.
Anonymous. The Expiatory Temple of Sagrada Familia. Dos de Arte Ediciones. Guias Visuales. n.d.

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