The artwork “Adoration of the Shepherds” by El Greco, a seminal artist of the Mannerism movement which succeeded the High Renaissance, dates back to circa 1570. Created in Spain, this oil on canvas religious painting measures 114 cm by 105 cm and is presently held in a private collection. The genre of this work is religious, reflecting the significant place of religious narrative in the art of the period and in El Greco’s oeuvre specifically.
The artwork showcases a nocturnal scene centered on the newborn Jesus, bathed in a divine light that illuminates His figure and casts a glow on the surrounding figures. The Virgin Mary kneels devoutly to the left of the infant, her hands clasped in prayer and her gaze fixated with reverence upon her child. She is draped in a rich, lustrous robe that reflects the light, underscoring her significance.
Around the child, various shepherds are depicted in a dynamic arrangement, each responding to the miraculous event with gestures of adoration, amazement, and contemplation. This scene is further animated by the stark contrasts of light and shadow, a characteristic technique of El Greco, that gives the composition a dramatic intensity and depth. The background opens up to more shepherds and a landscape vaguely suggested by the artist, leaving much to the viewer’s imagination and focusing the attention on the intimate interaction between the human figures and the infant.
El Greco’s distinctive style is evident in the elongated forms and fluid drapery, creating a sense of spiritual energy and movement that exceeds natural proportions—a hallmark of Mannerist aesthetics seeking to express inner emotion and transcendent religious experiences.
