Adoration of the Shepherds 17th-18th century

"Adoration of the Shepherds" is a 17th-18th century drawing by the Italian artist Paolo De Matteis. The artwork depicts the biblical story of the shepherds visiting the newborn baby Jesus, with Mary and Joseph present. The drawing's loose and gestural lines emphasize the movement and emotion of the scene. Created in black chalk on paper, it is a preparatory study for a larger painting and exemplifies De Matteis's skill in capturing the drama and intimacy of religious narratives. The work is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.