Artwork
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features Joseph standing behind a manger that serves as the infant's bed, while Mary lifts the white swaddling clothes to reveal the newborn.
Murillo's painting illustrates the biblical Adoration of the Shepherds, a religious scene centered on the Virgin Mary presenting the Christ Child to three visitors. The composition features Joseph standing behind a manger that serves as the infant's bed, while Mary lifts the white swaddling clothes to reveal the newborn. The gathering includes specific rustic elements: two hens rest near a kneeling shepherd, another stands holding a sheep, and an elderly peasant woman offers a basket of eggs.
Symbolic depth is added through the inclusion of animals; a cow emerges from the shadows on the left, balanced by a goat on the right that alludes to the Paschal Lamb. This arrangement of humble figures and livestock emphasizes the humanity of the incarnation within a naturalistic setting characteristic of mid-17th-century Spanish religious art.
Technique & Style
Executed circa 1650, this work is an oil painting on canvas characterized by a horizontal format. The composition displays stylistic traits indicating the influence of José de Ribera on the artist. Visually, the scene employs dramatic contrasts where the head of a cow emerges from deep shadow on the left, balancing a goat depicted on the right. The arrangement features the Virgin Mary kneeling to reveal the Christ Child, flanked by standing and kneeling shepherds alongside domestic animals including hens and a sheep. A peasant woman holding a basket of eggs is also integrated into the grouping, contributing to the naturalistic detail typical of the period.
History & Provenance
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo created the oil-on-canvas *Adoration of the Shepherds* around 1650. The work is noted for reflecting the artistic influence of José de Ribera. In 1764, the painting was acquired by King Charles III of Spain. It subsequently entered the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains housed. The piece is also historically associated with ownership by Ferdinand VII of Spain.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's *Adoration of the Shepherds*, dated circa 1650, is currently held in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work was acquired by King Charles III of Spain in 1764 and remains part of the museum's collection. While the painting was once owned by Ferdinand VII, the primary historical record confirms its acquisition by Charles III before entering the Prado's holdings. The source material does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece, nor does it list any exhibition history or past display locations beyond its long-term residence in Madrid.
Context
Painted around 1650, this work exemplifies the mature style of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, reflecting the artistic influence of José de Ribera. The composition captures the artist's characteristic approach to religious subjects, blending naturalistic detail with spiritual warmth. Acquired by King Charles III of Spain in 1764, the painting entered the royal collection before finding its permanent home in the Museo del Prado. Its presence in the Prado alongside other major works underscores Murillo's significant role in seventeenth-century Spanish religious art. The piece represents a key example of the artist's exploration of the Adoration theme during this period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish:; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
- Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Shepherds