The Adoration of the Shepherds
1553
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1553
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Adoration of the Shepherds is a 1553 by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows a stable with Mary, Joseph, and shepherds kneeling before baby Jesus. Soft light glows on their faces and the baby’s body. The animals rest nearby, simple and quiet. Aldegrever was a goldsmith as well as a painter. That skill shows in the careful, delicate lines around the figures and halos. The goldsmith’s touch makes the metalwork look real. This kind of sacred scene was common in Germany back then. If you like this style, look for Albrecht Dürer’s engravings of religious stories.
