Anbetung des Christkindes

Kneeling saints gather around the newborn Christ in a quiet night scene, dated 1508 and signed by the young Lorenzo Lotto. The intriguing figure is the female martyr at the right. Scholars have argued that her face is a real portrait of Caterina Cornaro, the Venetian noblewoman who had been Queen of Cyprus until Venice eased her off the throne and gave her the small hill town of Asolo to preside over instead. If they are right, she likely ordered the panel herself, for her own prayers, at Asolo or in Venice. Saint Francis kneels opposite her, and an old bearded saint stands watching in the shadows behind the Virgin.