The Adoration of the Shepherds
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a nighttime scene with shepherds crowding around a baby in a manger. Animals—an ox, a donkey, and a dog—stand nearby, while a woman holds the child. In the background, angels float above a stable, and shepherds in the distance point toward the light. The whole scene is dark with sharp contrasts, making the figures stand out. The print was made by engraving, a method that lets artists carve fine details into metal plates. This one copies a painting by Giulio Romano, but the lines here are crisp and dramatic. Check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
