Sandro Botticelli: The Mystic Nativity

It's a painting that lovers of mystery fiction should love. Botticelli's Mystic Nativity is a Renaissance masterpiece crammed with cryptic symbols disguising a dangerous message. But it is much more besides. Painted in 1500, it is a supremely beautiful vision of maternal love, earthly harmony and heavenly ecstasy. However, the painting also has a dark side. Botticelli had to carefully conceal its dangerous meaning, and only a recent chance discovery by a scholar fully unlocked its message.