Italo-Flemish School - Adoration of the Shepherds
Normaler Preis 50 317 krUnknown Italo-Flemish Artist (active circa 1600)
Adoration of the Shepherds
oil on copper
unframed: 32 × 25.5 cm (12.6 × 10 in)
framed: 43 × 37 cm (16.9 × 14.6 in)
Provenance:
Acquired by the previous owner’s father, London art trade in 1948.
Essay:
Adoration of the Shepherds is a superb example of an Italo-Flemish work at the transition from the late Renaissance to the Baroque. The unknown artist was evidently well-trained, possessing both technical virtuosity and a cosmopolitan visual vocabulary. The painting’s high level of finish, jewel-like coloration, and harmonious composition suggest it was created by someone in the circle of accomplished Flemish painters who had assimilated Italian artistic currents around 1600. The artist most likely belonged to a generation of Flemish or Dutch masters who traveled in Italy or trained under Italian-influenced mentors, and who produced cabinet pictures for discerning patrons.
Around 1600, a distinctive artistic synthesis emerged as Flemish painters absorbed Italian influences during their travels and studies. Many talented Flemish artists journeyed to Italy to learn from Renaissance and early Baroque masters, then returned home with new ideas in composition, coloring, and figure style. They merged the dramatic lighting, bold compositions, and rich coloration of Italian art with the meticulous realism and precise detail characteristic of Northern painting. This Italo-Flemish blend coincided with the dawn of the Baroque era in Northern Europe, especially in the Spanish Netherlands (Flanders), where Catholic Counter-Reformation patronage demanded emotive religious imagery. The cross-cultural exchange proved immensely influential in shaping early Baroque painting in the North.
This painting is executed on a copper panel, a support that gained popularity among elite workshops in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Oil on copper was prized for the unique qualities it lent to paintings, especially small-scale works. Key characteristics of this medium include an exceptionally smooth surface that allows razor-sharp details and delicate brushwork; jewel-like luminosity thanks to the slightly reflective metal ground; and long-term stability, as copper does not warp or degrade. These qualities made it ideal for collectors’ cabinet pictures, and the present work’s small format reflects this intended purpose.
The composition centers on the Christ Child, who lies glowing in a manger amid the ruins of a rustic stable. The infant emits a gentle radiance in the darkness, serving as a spiritual light source. The Virgin Mary is shown kneeling in reverence with hands extended toward her child, her face tenderly illuminated. Saint Joseph stands or kneels behind her, humbly observing the miracle. On the left side, three shepherds gather in adoration, their faces filled with awe. One kneels closest to the infant and offers a lamb, symbolizing Christ’s future sacrifice. Above, a host of angels hovers in the night sky.
Despite the small size of the copper panel, the artist includes multiple figures in layered depth, showcasing a complex narrative within a confined space. The overall mood is one of intimate reverence and tender wonder. The composition is carefully structured around the infant, with figures forming a pyramid and the angels completing a circular rhythm in the upper register.
While we do not know the painter’s name, the work’s refined style invites comparison to artists such as Denys Calvaert or early Rubens, who bridged northern and southern traditions. Like many in that circle, this painter combined devotional subject matter with theatricality and craft. This exquisite oil on copper, with its enduring colors and intricate detail, stands as a testament to the skill of its creator and the cross-pollination of artistic traditions that defined its era.
Sources:
Jennifer Reed, “Flemish Baroque – History, Characteristics & Artworks,” Study.com
Rhiannon Piper, “History, Preservation, and Restoration of Oil Paintings on Copper,” 2023
National Gallery, London – The Adoration of the Shepherds (NG1887)
Condition:
Recently restored. Small retouching in some areas, the colors are bright and clear.
please contact us for UV images.
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