The Adoration of the Shepherds

Van de Pere employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a soft, luminous glow to envelop the child and the woman cradling him while the surrounding figures recede into shadow. The subtle gradations of light create depth and draw the viewer’s eye toward the central holy family.

Completed in the late seventeenth century, the painting entered the Prado’s holdings through the museum’s early acquisitions of Spanish Baroque works. Its documented provenance traces back to private collections before becoming part of the national museum’s permanent display.

The work reflects the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on devotional imagery, aligning with contemporary Spanish painters who used dramatic lighting to evoke spiritual contemplation. The inclusion of shepherds links the humble origins of Christ to biblical prophecy.

While not among van de Pere’s most frequently reproduced pieces, the Adoration of the Shepherds remains a reference point for scholars studying the diffusion of chiaroscuro techniques in Iberian art and the devotional practices of late Baroque Spain.