The Adoration of the Shepherds
The Met
Artist: El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) and Workshop(Greek, Iráklion (Candia) 1541–1614 Toledo)
Date: ca. 1612–14
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 43 1/2 x 25 5/8 in. (110.5 x 65.1 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Multiple figures gathered around a baby, with winged figures and putti hovering above
Detailed Description
A vertically oriented painting depicts multiple figures illuminated against a dark background. In the upper third, a cluster of winged figures emerges from dark, swirling clouds. On the far upper left, a large, muscular winged figure with a white sash and red drapery holds a bright, glowing object, possibly a staff or sword, pointing downwards. To its right, another large winged figure in green and yellow drapery looks down, surrounded by several smaller putti. Light emanates from this upper group of winged figures, casting a glow on the figures below. In the central and lower portions of the painting, a group of figures is gathered. At the very center, a baby wrapped in white cloth lies on a bed of straw or fabric. To the left of the baby, a woman with a pale face, wearing a red dress and a white veil, looks down with clasped hands. To her left, a bearded man in a purple tunic and yellow drapery kneels, gesturing towards the baby. Directly in front of the baby, another bearded man, mostly bald, kneels with his back partially to the viewer, looking at the infant. Behind him, a man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a light-colored tunic, stands with hands clasped. To the far right, a tall, muscular man with dark hair stands, his hands crossed over his chest, wearing a yellow cloak over blue-grey trousers. The lower foreground shows dark, rocky ground and the partial form of an animal, possibly a donkey or ox, behind the kneeling figures. The painting uses a strong chiaroscuro effect, with deep shadows contrasting with brightly lit faces and drapery.
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