Artwork
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 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
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.
Subject & Meaning
Both interior scenes focus on the infant Christ as the central figure, emphasizing key moments of his early life: the covenantal rite of circumcision and the humble adoration by shepherds, underscoring themes of sacrifice and divine revelation. The exterior imagery links the prophetic voice of John the Baptist with the secular patronage of the kneeling nobles.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the composition employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated figures against deep shadows to model volume and create spatial depth. The palette is rich and varied, with meticulous attention to costume details, textures of armor, and symbolic objects that enhance narrative clarity.
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.
Artist & collection
Portrait of a man aged 33
The Company of Captain Gillis Jansz Valckenier and Lieutenant Pieter Jacobsz Bas, Amsterdam, 1599
Six Wardens of the Drapers’ Guild
Members of the civic guard company of Captain Dirck Tholinx and Lieutenant Pieter Adriaenszn Raep
Memorial Panel with Eight Male Portraits, probably Willem Jelysz van Soutelande and Family, with Saint James the Greater and the Van Soutelande Family Crest, inner left wing of an altarpiece