The Adoration of the Shepherds with Saint Catherine of Alexandria

A Nativity scene under a dark sky, with the Christ child lying on straw at center while Mary draws back a white cloth beside him. Joseph leans on a staff at left, a crowned saint stands in shadow behind, and a shepherd in green offers a lamb at right. Angels hold a scroll reading GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO above.

Look closer: A small bundled lamb or sheep rests at the lower right near the shepherd's feet.

Artist

Cigoli (Ludovico Cardi)

Date

1599

Medium

Oil on canvas

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

2351 × 3722 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gwynne Andrews Fund, 1991