Artwork

The Adoration of the Shepherds

The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Giovanni Battista Merano, ink
The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Giovanni Battista Merano, ink

The Adoration of the Shepherds is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Merano. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Adoration of the Shepherds is a drawing by Giovanni Battista Merano, created around 1685. It is a pen and brown ink work with brown wash on laid paper, held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, surrounded by shepherds in various poses of reverence. The scene conveys a sense of serenity and quiet contemplation, capturing the emotional moment of the shepherds' adoration.

Technique & Style

Merano's use of pen and brown ink with brown wash creates a sense of depth and texture. Delicate lines and subtle shading contribute to the intimate atmosphere of the scene, characteristic of the Baroque style.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.