The earliest known depiction of the birth of Jesus dates back to around 320. In this representation, the manger is shaped like an altar. Christian art initially developed its motifs from the narratives of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, as well as from the apocryphal childhood gospels. In the 14th century, depictions increasingly show Mary and Joseph sitting on the ground on either side of the child. By the end of the 14th century, genre motifs begin to be incorporated into the imagery. Joseph prepares a meal for mother and child or warms his hands by a stove. In the late Gothic period, the focus shifts from depicting the childhood story itself to meditative contemplation of the incarnation. A tendency towards devotional imagery emerges. The type of adoration evolves into the predominant motif by the 16th century. A particular highlight is.