Adoration of the Shepherds

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting shows the influence of Neoclassical aesthetics that were prevalent at the close of the eighteenth century. Gandolfi employs a restrained palette, clear modeling of forms, and balanced arrangement of figures, while retaining a subtle softness that hints at his Baroque training.

Gaetano Gandolfi, noted for his biblical and mythological commissions across Europe, produced this work toward the end of his career. After changing hands among private collectors, the painting entered the Ashmolean Museum’s holdings, where it remains a documented part of the institution’s Italian art collection.