Nativity with shepherds
An illuminated letter ‘H’ forms the basis of this Christmas Day antiphon. Mary kneels holding up her hands in astonishment at the Christ child lying naked in a blaze of gold leaf glory. Three shepherds peep into the manger and one is loosing his hat. Joseph is looking somewhat bemused. Unusually, he has a prominent position. In most representations of the nativity, he takes a back seat.