The Adoration of the Shepherds
The Met
Artist: El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)(Greek, Iráklion (Candia) 1541–1614 Toledo)
Date: ca. 1605–10
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 56 7/8 x 39 7/8 in. (144.5 x 101.3 cm); with added strips 64 1/2 x 42 in. (163.8 x 106.7 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1905
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Dark painting shows a baby, a woman, a bearded man, other figures, and winged beings
Detailed Description
A vertically oriented painting depicts a crowded scene with dramatic lighting and elongated figures. In the upper center, three small winged beings float, one holding a white banner with dark text that reads "GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO". To the left, dark green foliage is visible, while an archway frames the upper right. The central focus is a baby, wrapped in white cloth, lying in a manger or on a bed of straw, illuminated by a bright light source. To the baby's right, a woman in a pink and purple robe looks down. Beside her, a bearded man in dark robes gestures with his hands, also looking towards the baby. To the left of the baby, several figures are gathered. One man, kneeling in the foreground, wears a green cloak and a brown tunic, his hands near the baby. Behind him, other figures lean in, some with their hands raised. A figure in a white garment on the far left raises both arms upwards. A small white lamb lies on the dark brown ground in the lower center, near the kneeling man. The overall palette is dark, with strong contrasts between light and shadow, highlighting the illuminated central figures.
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