The Adoration of the Shepherds (L'adoration des bergers) by James Tissot

The Adoration of the Shepherds (L'adoration des bergers) - James Tissot - Oil Painting

At a Glance

The Adoration of the Shepherds (L'adoration des bergers) - James Tissot - Oil Painting suits both traditional and modern interiors. As a fine art oil painting, it works as a standalone focal point or as part of a gallery wall gallery wall, and unlike a print it is genuinely hand painted in oils.

The Story Behind the Painting

1886-1894
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum, United States.

In Luke's Gospel, the shepherds in the hills and valleys surrounding Bethlehem first learn of the miraculous event from an angel who announces the birth of the Savior. The accompanying angels joyously sing their praise of God and urge good will to men, a passage that gives its name to a well-known hymn, 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo' (Glory to God in the Highest).

In the text he wrote to accompany this image, Tissot explains the local practices for pasturage in the Middle East, noting that small bands of shepherds gathered around campfires and alternated watches to care for their flocks. Attentive to this practical detail, Tissot casts the faces of his shepherds in the orange glow of their warming fire a striking contrast to the verdant surroundings of sheltering trees and the dark night sky.

After waking their companions, the shepherds, accompanied by a few sheep, pay homage to the newborn child in the low-ceilinged grotto. While some shepherds register their wonder with their hands upraised, others proffer modest gifts of livestock and loaded baskets.

The fine art subject is rebuilt stroke by stroke in oil, giving the finished canvas the depth expected of elegant oil painting wall decor.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Each canvas is painted entirely by hand with professional oil paints on artist-grade cotton canvas. No printing, giclée, or digital imaging is used at any stage, so the surface keeps the slight relief and color variation of real brushwork.

What Is Included

• Every fine art canvas is hand painted in oils; no mechanical or digital reproduction at any stage.
• An extra 2-inch blank border is left around all edges for easy stretching and framing.
• Studio-direct pricing and worldwide shipping on every fine art oil painting order.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 30 X 40 in, 36 X 48 in, 48 X 72 in.
• Custom canvas dimensions are welcome for this fine art oil painting.
• Choose from DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS and other competitively priced carriers.
• Complimentary stretching over wooden stretcher bars; ask us about a custom frame.
• Every order includes a pre-shipment digital preview for your approval.

Wall Decor & Gifting

This fine art oil painting wall decor is equally at home in a residence, a boutique hotel, or a professional office. Its elegant character makes it a safe, distinctive gift for anyone furnishing a gallery wall.

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