The Star of Bethlehem

 (click to enlarge)

Edward Burne-Jones

(British, 1833-1898)

The Star of Bethlehem, 1888-91

Oil on canvas

The Nativity

 (click to enlarge)

Edward Burne-Jones

(British, 1833-1898)

The Nativity, 1888

Oil on canvas

Called The Nativity, its true subject is the redemption of mankind through cycles of birth, death, and rebirth exemplified by the life of Christ. The somber mood of the scene results not only from muted coloring and static figures, but also from many symbols of death: the crown of thorns, chalice, and urn; the shroudlike garments; and the draping of the manger reminiscent of a bier. The Latin inscription refers to the Resurrection: Because of the misery of the poor and the groaning of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord. As in the unusual iconography of The King and the Shepherd, nearby, this inscription is a subtle allusion to the social miseries of Victorian Britain. 

from the website of the Carnegie Museum of Art

Rest on the Flight to Egypt

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Federico Fiori Barocci

(Italian, 1526-1612)

Rest on the Flight to Egypt, 1570

Oil on canvas

Christ in the House of His Parents

(click to enlarge) 

John Everett Millais

(English, 1829-1896)

Christ in the House of His Parents, 1849-50

Oil on canvas

This painting is full of Pre-Raphelite detail! Enlarge it and check it out! As for what's going on in the painting, Wikipedia sums it all up perfectly:

The painting depicts the young Jesus assisting Joseph in his workshop. Joseph is making a door, which is laid on his carpentry work-table. Jesus has cut his hand on an exposed nail, leading to a sign of the stigmata, prefiguring the crucifixion. As Saint Anne removes the nail with a pair of pincers, his concerned mother Mary offers her cheek for a kiss while Joseph examines his wounded hand. The young John the Baptist brings in water to wash the wound, prefiguring his later baptism of Christ. An assistant of Joseph's, representing potential future Apostles watches these events. In the background various objects are used to further point up the theological significance of the subject. A ladder, referring to Jacob's ladder is visible leaning against the back wall; a dove standing for the Holy Spirit rests on it. Other carpentry implements refer to the Holy Trinity. . . . The sheep in the fold in the background represent the future Christian flock.