Adoration of the Shepherds

Specializing in religious subjects, Francisco de Zurbarán became one of the most accomplished painters of the seventeenth century. In this large canvas, the artist shows a group of shepherds visiting the newborn baby Jesus. Accompanied by Mary and Joseph, they all clasp their hands in reverence towards the infant. This type of devout imagery exemplified the religiosity of the Counter-Reformation. Zurbarán created similar images of the same theme, but the quality of this particular painting suggests it was not done by the artist himself but someone linked to his workshop.