Adoration of the Shepherds
mid 17th century
Medium
Black ink and wash over preliminary drawing in black chalk on paper with white highlights with black framing lines
Dimensions
Sheet: 15 1/16 × 9 7/16 in. (38.2 × 23.9 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Kenneth Grebinar, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019
Accession Number
2019.276.3
Art Historical Context
In the grand tradition of Flemish Baroque art, Jan Boeckhorst's *Adoration of thes* captures a pivotal moment from the Nativity story: humble shepherds revering the infant Christ in the stable. Created in the mid-17th century, drawing reflects Boeckhorst's style as a skilled follower of Peter Paul Rubens, blending dramatic religious themes with dynamic compositions full of emotion and movement. Active in Antwerp's vibrant artistic scene, Boeckhorst often produced such preparatory works for larger paintings, infusing them with the era's emphasis on light, shadow, and human tenderness. Executed...