Presentation in the Temple in the Dark Manner

Note the larger size of this work and the scale of the figures to the architecture, which is accentuated by the standing priest in the background. Simeon had a revelation from the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. In the foreground Simeon presents the Christ Child to the high priest seated on a raised dais. The triangular arrangement of the principal figures focuses attention on Simeon’s revelation. This emotion is reinforced by the overall darkness of the scene with only the three main figures in the light. Christ’s parents at the left and the face of the Child are in shadows, emphasizing the glow of Christ’s halo.