1778
oil
canvas
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
The Adoration of the Shepherds is a 1778 oil by Gaetano Gandolfi, a Barbizon school work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
The painting depicts a scene with Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Jesus, surrounded by shepherds and angels. Mary is seated, holding the baby, while Joseph stands beside her. The shepherds are shown in various poses, some kneeling or standing, with one holding a staff. The background is a simple, rustic setting with a thatched roof and a few palm fronds. In the foreground, a shepherd is shown in a dynamic pose, as if he has just entered the scene. He is dressed in a red robe and has a basket on his head. The use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume in the painting, with strong contrasts between light and dark areas. The Adoration of the Shepherds is a beautiful example of Baroque art, characterized by dramatic lighting and intense emotions. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.
Gaetano Gandolfi (31 August 1734 – 20 June 1802) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and sculptor of the late Baroque period, mainly active in and around Bologna.
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