Annunciation to the Shepherds, Joachim Wtewael, 1595 - 1603
oil on canvas, h 170cm × w 136cm More details
In keeping with the biblical account, the night sky bursts open and the ‘splendour of the Lord' shines on the shepherds, some of whom are still asleep. An angel announces the birth of Jesus. The supernatural light is so bright that some of the figures have to shield their eyes. The contorted limbs and poses are typical of Mannerism, the style in which Wtewael excelled.
