Skip to main content

Italian, Florentine, 'The Adoration of the Shepherds', about 1600

Key facts
Full title The Adoration of the Shepherds
Artist Italian, Florentine
Date made about 1600
Medium and support oil on copper
Dimensions 31.4 × 24.7 cm
Acquisition credit Bought, 1860
Inventory number NG1887
Location Not on display
Collection Main Collection
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Italian, Florentine
/

The glowing Christ Child lies in a manger in a dark and dilapidated stable. The Virgin Mary kneels on the right beside Saint Joseph. Two angels hover in the darkness behind and three shepherds peer at the baby; the one in the foreground carries a lamb by its feet.

The night sky above has opened to reveal a host of cherubs, one of whom holds a banner with the Latin words ‘GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO’ (‘Glory be to God in the highest’).

This small painting was previously attributed to Scarsellino (about 1550–1620), an artist who worked in Ferrara, and was later thought to be North Italian. Recent cleaning has revealed the delicacy of the brushwork (especially evident in the starlit sky and the foremost shepherd’s fur trim and pouch), which is enhanced by the smooth copper on which this picture is painted. The bright colour range unveiled by the cleaning suggests it was painted in Florence at the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Download image
Download low-resolution image

Download a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.

License this image

License and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.

License image
Download low-resolution image

This image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.

Examples of non-commercial use are:

  • Research, private study, or for internal circulation within an educational organisation (such as a school, college or university)
  • Non-profit publications, personal websites, blogs, and social media

The image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.

As a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.

Download low-resolution image

You must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image.

Creative Commons Logo