The birth of Jesus is one of the most well-known episodes of the Christian story, made familiar through countless Christmas cards. But where does the story come from and how much of what we see and understand about the 'Boy born to be King' comes from the Bible? Join Dr Richard Stemp as he explores images of the Christ Child in Wallace Collection paintings, sculptures, works on vellum and in wax, to discover diverse origins of some apparently self-evident 'truths'.

About the speaker: Dr Richard Stemp is a graduate of Clare College, University of Cambridge, where he also completed his PhD on ‘Sculpture in Ferrara in the 15th Century’. After a year at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, he has since shared his time between art and acting. Richard was a lecturer at the National Gallery for 24 years, and has worked regularly for London’s leading galleries including Tate, Buckingham Palace and the V&A. His books include The Secret Language of the Renaissance and Churches and Cathedrals, 2010 and he has written and presented two series for Channel Four: Art in the National Gallery and Tate Modern.

Take part at the museum: No ticket required, drop in on the day. Join us in the Theatre for this special talk.

Watch online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum. Book a free ticket online to receive a Zoom link. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks only.