Date of Award

1-1-2011

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Department

Art

Sub-Department

Art History

First Advisor

Carlton Hughes

Abstract

The evolution of the depiction of Joseph is evident in Christian art, and his iconography is widely recognized. The significance of the addition of the donkey saddle and traveler's items to Florentine nativities in the 15th century is understated at best, if not ignored all together. These items appear during the rise of the Medici family, as an indication of the shift in culture towards the patriarchal society endorsed by this prominent family. The use of the saddle and traveler's items is mostly relegated to Florence during a relatively short period. These items do not readily appear in art from other regions, and their use falls off greatly after the Medici fall from power.

Rights

© 2011, Janie Boyer

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