Bidspirit auction | Adoration of the Shepherds. Spanish

Adoration of the Shepherds. Spanish School. 18th Century - Oil on cardboard. In a dark and intimate interior, illuminated by the celestial fountain emanating from the Child Jesus, a scene of adoration is grouped together, featuring humble shepherds and Marian figures. The Child rests on the Virgin's lap, while Saint Joseph observes the scene from the background. Around him, kneeling shepherds and animal figures join in devotionally in the sacred moment. The centered, pyramid-shaped composition draws the eye toward the luminous fulcrum around the Child, generating an irradiated effect reminiscent of late Baroque painting. The warm, earthy palette, along with the light accents on the flesh and drapery, lend chromatic richness and emotional realism to the scene. The brushwork is impasto but precise, and the treatment of the faces reflects an expressive and pious intention. This work responds to the devotional model of 18th-century religious painting, influenced by the Tenebrist tradition and Counter-Reformation spirituality. 74 x 60 cm.