Singing Together: Poems for Christmas

When I think of Christmas my thoughts often turn to a painting called “The Nativity” by the great Tuscan artist Piero della Francesca which fortunately we have in our National Gallery in London. The feelings of solemn serenity and peace which it evokes by its subdued, marmoreal tones enable us to experience the pure light of rebirth. Leonardo’s “The Virgin of the Rocks” uses dark shadows but is also incredibly beautiful. When we recall that this area of Central Italy produced Dante and Mich...