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A burst of brilliant light shines on the newborn Christ, who is watched over by Mary, Joseph and a gathering of worshippers and onlookers. The source of the light is hidden, so it seems to radiate directly from the sleeping child, illuminating the faces of all around him. The scene represents the episode in the Bible when shepherds arrived to pay homage to the Messiah. One kneels, raising his hands in wonder. Another is silhouetted against the light, while a third stands reverently to one side. Along with the animals in the background, this was the traditional cast of an Adoration of the Shepherds. But the artist added other figures, including the two women holding up a small child, to give the scene a more informal atmosphere. A closely related version of the Adoration known to be by Rembrandt is in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich.
Title
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Date
1646
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 65.5 x W 55 cm
Accession number
NG47
Acquisition method
Bought, 1824
Work type
Painting
