Who painted The Adoration of the Shepherds?

The Adoration of the Shepherds was painted by Antonio van de Pere.

Where can I see The Adoration of the Shepherds?

The Adoration of the Shepherds is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Adoration of the Shepherds?

The Adoration of the Shepherds is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Antonio van de Pere

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds, a scene from the Christian narrative in which shepherds gather to honor the newborn Christ Child.

The painting depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds, a scene from the Christian narrative in which shepherds gather to honor the newborn Christ Child. The composition centers on the infant Jesus, placed within humble surroundings, while the shepherds present gifts and gestures of reverence. Basketry is specifically noted among the depicted elements, suggesting a rustic setting consistent with the biblical account of the Nativity. The work aligns with the religious genre, emphasizing devotion and the human response to the divine event.

Technique & Style

The Adoration of the Shepherds is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for seventeenth-century religious panel painting. The work measures 185 cm in height by 131 cm in width, giving it a substantial vertical format suited to its devotional subject. Classified simply as a painting, it belongs to the religious genre and was produced by Antonio van de Pere in 1678.

The canvas support and oil medium are consistent with the painterly handling typical of late seventeenth-century Spanish devotional works, though no further details of brushwork, palette, or condition are documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

The Adoration of the Shepherds is an oil painting created in 1678 by Antonio van de Pere. It measures 185 cm by 131 cm and depicts the adoration of the shepherds, featuring the Christ Child and basketry. The work is part of the collections at the Museo del Prado and the Museo de la Trinidad, and it is currently housed in the Museo del Prado.

The painting was produced during the Baroque period as a religious artwork, reflecting the artistic conventions of the time.

The provenance of the painting traces its presence in institutional collections, with records indicating its inclusion in the Museo del Prado’s holdings following its creation. Its dating is firmly established to the year 1678, aligning with van de Pere’s documented activity in religious subjects.

The work is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, Madrid, where it is inventoried as part of the holdings transferred from the Museo de la Trinidad. It was painted in 1678 by Antonio van de Pere.

The painting has been exhibited at the Museo del Prado, as reflected in the museum’s holdings record.

Context

Antonio van de Pere's 1678 oil painting The Adoration of the Shepherds, housed in Madrid's Museo del Prado, depicts the biblical scene of shepherds adoring the infant Christ, rendered in oil on canvas measuring 185 cm by 131 cm.

The work belongs to the religious art genre and reflects 17th-century Spanish devotional painting traditions, though specific critical reception history and scholarly analyses of its artistic significance are not documented in the provided sources.

Its placement within the artist's oeuvre is defined by its religious subject matter and formal characteristics consistent with contemporary Spanish Baroque painting practices.

Overview

Antonio van de Pere’s oil on canvas, dated 1690, presents a nocturnal scene of the Nativity known as the Adoration of the Shepherds. The work is part of the collection at Madrid’s Museo del Prado and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with religious narrative through a restrained yet intimate composition.

Legacy

While not among van de Pere’s most frequently reproduced pieces, the Adoration of the Shepherds remains a reference point for scholars studying the diffusion of chiaroscuro techniques in Iberian art and the devotional practices of late Baroque Spain.