Artwork
Anbetung der Hirten
Anbetung der Hirten is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the adoration of the shepherds, showing the infant Christ Child surrounded by humble shepherds in a devotional scene.
The painting depicts the adoration of the shepherds, showing the infant Christ Child surrounded by humble shepherds in a devotional scene. This subject draws from the biblical narrative of the Nativity, emphasizing themes of divine incarnation and the recognition of Christ’s significance by the lowliest observers. The composition reflects Counter-Reformation ideals of intimate, emotionally resonant religious imagery, inviting contemplation of sacred humility and divine presence in everyday life.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring 110 cm by 76 cm. It depicts the adoration of the shepherds, showing the Christ Child surrounded by shepherds in a devotional composition. The formal execution demonstrates Rottenhammer's precise draftsmanship and rich coloration typical of early Baroque religious painting.
History & Provenance
The Adoration of the Shepherds (Anbetung der Hirten) by Hans Rottenhammer is dated 1608, aligning with the artist’s mature period.
It entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains today. The painting depicts the Nativity scene and was created as an independent work rather than part of a larger commission.
The painting Anbetung der Hirten by Hans Rottenhammer, created in 1608, is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. While the museum location is confirmed, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the work. There is no information available in the sources regarding the artwork's exhibition history.
Overview
Hans Rottenhammer’s Anbetung der Hirten, executed in 1608, presents a compact, meticulously rendered religious scene. The composition centers on a woman in a vivid blue robe kneeling beside an infant, surrounded by a small group of figures within an architectural setting of stone columns and arches, with a hint of foliage at the right edge.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.
