Annunciation to the Shepherds

Taddeo Gaddi - Annunciation to the Shepherds (around 1330)

Joachim Wtewael - Annunciation to the Shepherds (1606)

The Annunciation to the Shepherds has been a popular motif in Christian art since the Middle Ages . It is mainly found in frescoes as well as on panel and canvas paintings. A more or less large group of simply dressed and mostly unshaven men with a shepherd's staff , shepherd's bag, bagpipe , flute, etc. are depicted in the midst of a few sheep, goats and dogs. The 'Annunciation to the Shepherds' precedes the subject of the ' Adoration of the Shepherds '. Above all, the later depictions of the subject belong to the art-historical type of 'night pictures', i. H. in this case a celestial phenomenon acts as the light source.

Bible text

The motif goes back to the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke ( Lk 2,8-12 EU ), where it says:

“In that area, shepherds camped in the open field and kept watch over their flock by night. Then the angel of the Lord came to them and the splendor of the Lord shone around them. They were very afraid, but the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for I tell you a great joy that will be shared with all the people: Today the Savior has been born to you in the city of David; he is the Messiah, the Lord. And that should serve as a sign: You will find a child, wrapped in diapers, lying in a crib. "

meaning

While the ' Adoration of the Magi ' handed down by Matthew places the Christ child above or alongside high-ranking or educated people (kings, magicians, astrologers, etc.), Luke includes people from the common people in his Christmas story - in other words: The baby Jesus is there for everyone or has something to give to everyone.

Representations

The earliest representations of the shepherds of the Christmas story in Christian art can be found in ivory carvings , book illuminations , on tympana or on baptismal fonts . The 'Annunciation to the Shepherds' was seen early on as an independent pictorial theme; In a few mostly older depictions the 'Birth of Christ', the 'Annunciation to the Shepherds' and the 'Adoration of the Shepherds' are shown in a pictorial context.