Festive Artworks of the Season

December is here!  While it is impossible not to notice the shift in weather, it’s not all bad – while it may be colder, the festive season has also begun! Celebrate the seasonal events inspiring celebration from religious groups, as well as the beauty of the natural world and its influence on visual artists. While the specific types of paint, the application or subjects differ greatly between these pieces, all of the artists shared their inspiration in this beautiful time of year and the environment it creates.

Family and Friends

These artworks all depict a Christmas enjoyed by the side of friends and family. A range of styles and media are used across the pieces, but all intend to evoke that warm festive feeling we all get walking the streets in December!

ajo-3613934

Christmas Shopping, Claire Huntley / Private Collection

sel-244069

Boxing Day Empties, 2005 (mixed media), Lincoln Seligman / Private Collection

ban-51030

Christmas Tree Selling, 1988, Magdolna Ban / Private Collection

stc-101989

L’Hiver, 1925 (colour litho), Georges Barbier (1882-1932) / Private Collection / DaTo Images

ajo-3658255

Christmas by the fireplace, Claire Huntley / Private Collection

 

Christmas Culture

These paintings portray specific events or happenings in winter, such as Christmas Shopping, Ice Skating and similar pursuits.

ana-2560036

Christmas skating, Somerset House with pink lights, 2014 (oil on canvas), Andrew Macara / Private Collection

lh-36949

Hilltop Toys and Games, Lavinia Hamer (Contemporary Artist) / Private Collection

afn-2907463

The Illuminations, 2014, (oil on panel), Chris Ross Williamson

dc-71218

Santa sleeping by the fire, 1995, David Cooke (Contemporary Artist) / Private Collection

juj-53063

Tower Bridge: Skating on Thin Ice, Judy Joel / Private Collection

5059823

Spruced Up Santa, Jenny Frean / Private Collection

 

Christianity Celebrations

Christianity celebrates several days around this time of year, and we have an abundance of vibrant religious artwork on this period. From the Virgin Mary to the Three Kings, all elements of Christian religious history are covered by what we have in the archive – we also hold many religious texts and documents.

acz-3514850

Angels, 1999, (ink and gouache), Jane Tattersfield / Private Collection

ekh-125097

Nativity (w/c on paper), Elena Khmeleva (Contemporary Artist) / Private Collection

lal-304016

Three Kings, Richard Hook (b.1938) / Private Collection / © Look and Learn

ml-17834

Winter at the Convent, Margaret Loxton / RONA Gallery, London, UK

lgj-199402

The Nativity (w/c & gouache on paper), Lisa Graa Jensen / Private Collection

Hannukah Celebrations

Hannukah is also celebrated in December by those of the Judaism faith. The Hannukah Lamp features in most Jewish artworks on this subject, and a large variety of visual styles and methods of depiction are used. We have highlighted some contemporary paintings below, alongside book extracts and engravings. We also hold contemporary photographs covering Hannukah celebrations across the globe.

dh-98594

Lighting the Chanukah Lamp, 1996 (oil on canvas), Dora Holzhandler (1928-2015) / Private Collection

afo-2899846

On the Corner Table, from the series, Tereska’s Gift, 2015 (photograph), Joy Lions / Private Collection

imj-700700

Illustration from the ‘The Regensburg Pentateuch’, c.1300 (ink, tempera & gold-leaf on paper), German School, (14th century) / The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel / The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir

xlf-3784189

Mattathias Appealing to the Jewish Refugees by Doré – Bible, Gustave Dore (1832-83) / Lebrecht History

afo-1272459

Jerusalem (2), from the series Italian Synagogue, 2015 (mixed media), Joy Lions / Private Collection

 

Fields and Fauna

Animals play a huge part in festivities of the season – in some situations, as ceremonial figureheads and in others as traditional foodstuffs. However, most popular among artists are contemporary works depicting animals of all kinds enjoying the festivities along with human companions. Wild animals frolic in snowy fields, and pets gather around fireplaces.

acz-1163545

The Twelve days of Christmas, 2010, (oil on canvas), Jane Tattersfield / Private Collection

ps-284173

Christmas Warmth (oil on canvas), Pat Scott (1932-2017) / Private Collection

lgj-741848

Snowy Peace, 2011 (acrylic ink and gouche on paper), Lisa Graa Jensen / Private Collection

ps-152676

Christmas Chorus (acrylic on canvas), Pat Scott (1932-2017) / Private Collection

lwr-84328

The Fox Dance, 1986, Liz Wright (b.1950) / Private Collection

 

Many of the beautifully festive artworks shown here have been created by our Bridgeman Studio Artists. For more information on Bridgeman Studio click here.

 

Read More

8 Sure Signs Winter is Here

Winter Wonderland: Famous Paintings of the Season

Back to Blog

Related Articles

Travel The World Through Art! – bridgeman blog

It’s August – whether your perfect idea of time off is sunbathing on a white sand beach, hiking,...

Bridgeman Contemporary Artist Stephen Finer’s Portraits of David Bowie – bridgeman blog

Stephen Finer first met David Bowie while they were both visiting a commercial exhibition on Cork...

Famous Cats from Literature – bridgeman blog

While we celebrate our animals every day of the year, unfortunately National Pet Month (01 April...

Back to top