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Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor

Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor, oil, 1570
Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor, oil, 1570

Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor is an oil painting. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work consists of two hinged panels that together form a diptych altarpiece.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition combines narrative clarity with devotional symbolism, emphasizing the acknowledgment of the divine in both celestial and earthly realms.

The work depicts a circumcision scene on the left wing and an adoration of the shepherds on the right, framed by exterior panels showing John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and six kneeling armored noblemen. These figures embody themes of recognition of Christ's role and the offering of tribute, linking the narrative of Christ's infancy to broader theological concepts of revelation and homage. The composition combines narrative clarity with devotional symbolism, emphasizing the acknowledgment of the divine in both celestial and earthly realms.

Technique & Style

Created in 1570, these two altarpiece wings are executed in oil paint on wood panel. The works measure 236 cm in height and 104 cm in width, presenting a substantial physical presence typical of large-scale religious commissions from the period. The medium and support combination suggests a durable construction intended for liturgical display, with the oil paint allowing for detailed rendering of the biblical scenes depicted on the interior and exterior surfaces.

Stylistically, the anonymous artist employed a formal approach consistent with mid-16th-century religious art, focusing on the narrative clarity of the Circumcision, the Adoration of the Shepherds, and the exterior figures of John the Baptist and kneeling noblemen.

History & Provenance

The work was created in 1570 as an anonymous religious painting in oil on panel, likely commissioned for private devotional use. It was produced as part of a larger altarpiece, with the left wing depicting the Circumcision and the right wing showing the Adoration of the Shepherds, while the exterior panels feature John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and six kneeling noblemen in armor. The piece entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains today.

The panels are held in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The left wing is inventoried as SK-A-1684 and the right wing as SK-A-1685.

They were exhibited in the Rijksmuseum’s long-term display within the Gallery of Honour (Gallery 2.17) as of the museum’s 2019 reinstallation of its Dutch masters holdings.

Overview

The work consists of two hinged panels that together form a diptych altarpiece. The left wing depicts the biblical circumcision of the infant Jesus, while the right wing shows the shepherds’ visit to the newborn. When closed, the exterior presents a figure of John the Baptist holding a lamb opposite six armored noblemen kneeling in reverence.

Context

The pairing of the Circumcision and the Adoration of the Shepherds reflects a liturgical program common in late medieval and early Renaissance devotional art, intended for private or chapel use. The inclusion of contemporary armored patrons on the exterior suggests a commission by a noble family seeking to associate their status with sacred events.

Gillis de Smidt with seven children
Gillis de Smidt with seven children, Adriaen Thomasz. Key

Artist & collection

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Rijksmuseum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

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Where can I see Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor?

Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor?

Two Altarpiece Wings with the Circumcision (left) and Adoration of the Shepherds (right). On the outside are John the Baptist with the Lamb of God and Six Kneeling Noblemen in Armor is associated with Mannerism.