Artwork
The Nativity and the Adoration of the Shepherds
The Nativity and the Adoration of the Shepherds is a print by Jan Sadeler. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a black‑and‑white print on paper that portrays the Nativity scene together with the shepherds’ homage.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black‑and‑white print on paper that portrays the Nativity scene together with the shepherds’ homage. Executed by Jan (I) Sadeler, the image is based on an earlier composition by the Italian painter Jacopo Bassano the Elder.
Subject & Meaning
The composition brings together the infant Christ in a modest stable, attended by his mother and a kneeling figure, while a group of shepherds gathers around, some playing music, others resting. The arrangement emphasizes the humble circumstances of the birth and the communal reverence of the shepherds.
Technique & Style
Rendered in chiaroscuro, the print uses strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and animals, which include an ox, a donkey, and several sheep. The illumination appears to descend from above, creating depth and highlighting facial expressions and drapery.
History & Provenance
Jan (I) Sadeler, a prominent engraver of the late 16th century, produced the print after Bassano’s original design, translating the painter’s color palette into monochrome line work. The piece bears Sadeler’s signature in the lower margin, confirming his authorship.
Context
The print reflects the period’s interest in reproducing religious narratives for devotional use, allowing wider circulation of Bassano’s composition beyond Italy. Such prints were often collected for private contemplation or displayed in domestic settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Sadeler made prints in the second half of the 1500s, a time when religious scenes were often turned into pictures for books and walls.
