On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02988
- Author
- El Greco (Spanish)
- Title
- Adoration of the Shepherds
- Chronology
- 1612 - 1614
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 319 cm x 180 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COMPRA
- Procedence
- Acquisition, 1954
This is one of the painter's most
important late works and was
supposed to hang in his family
pantheon at the church of the
Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo
in Toledo. For that reason, the
artist returned to a subject he had
dealt with at various moments in
his career, a symbol of
ressurection and eternity that was
supposed to accompany the painter,
who probably portrayed himself as
the shepherd in the foreground. It
is thought that he chose this
episode because of the meaning of
his last name (Theotocopoulus).
Theotokos means “Mother of God” in
Greek.
The planned pantheon quickly
disappeared and the painting was
moved to another place in the
church, where it suffered various
kinds of deterioration. In 1854, it
was acquired by the Prado
Museum.
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