ANN ARBOR— Retail stores have stocked their shelves with decorations, wrappings, trimmings and gift items. Television ads are urging the purchase of holiday music. But this seasonal blitz can’t hold a scented candle to the glory of Christmas as expressed by artists across the centuries.

The University of Michigan’s Museum of Art features more than 17 works depicting such events as the Nativity of the Virgin, the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Virgin and Child. And this season the Museum adds to its collections a special exhibition of colorful 18th- and 19th- century prints from the town of Epinal, France, that includes playing cards, children’s games, figures that became the toy soldiers of the time, illustrations from children’s classics such as ” Beauty and the Beast,” ” Puss in Boots” and ” Little Red Riding Hood,” and religious imagery.

The Museum’s first floor exhibit area offers a wide range of religious subjects by an equally wide range of artists: paintings of the Madonna and Child with various saints and angels and an ivory carving of the Virgin and Child to renditions of Christ on the Mount of Olives and a processional cross showing the Dead Christ on one side and the Living Christ on the other.

A 16th-Century interpretation of the Annunciation includes lilies, suggesting Mary’s purity, and a white dove, symbolic of the Incarnation. Other works include a scene of Christ Helping the Deaf Mute, and an alabaster statue of Saint Christopher with the Christ Child. An ivory diptych shows several scenes from the life of Christ including the Annunciation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, Entry into Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Washing of the Feet, and Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene.

The early products in ” Epinal: Early Images” illustrate that the roots of the popular printmaking industry lay in making inexpensive decorative elements and playing cards. From stencil- colored woodcuts to lithographs colored in the same way, artists created images depicting saints, historical figures, famous battles, familiar tales and songs, and moral or satirical subjects. Eventually these printing establishments produced a plethora of games, toys, children’s theaters and other amusements designed to fill the leisure hours of young and old alike.

The religious artifacts and paintings are on permanent display in the Museum. The prints from Epinal will remain on exhibit through Jan. 5. Admission to the Museum, its galleries and special exhibitions is free. The Museum, located at 525 South State Street, is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-5 p.m. The Museum is closed Mondays and will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The gift shop within the Museum maintains the same hours.

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