Large Adoration of the shepherds, Flanders 17th century

Very large oil on oak panel representing the adoration of the shepherds with three angels and a woman carrying a basket of offerings on her head.
The shepherds near the place of the Nativity (Bethlehem), watching as usual with their animals in the fields, for the longest night of the year, that of the solstice, are informed first, by the angels in the sky, of the coming of the Savior.  They go to the manger to prostrate themselves before the baby Jesus and to celebrate the incarnation of the almighty King of Heaven (Gospel according to Luke, 2: 8-20)
Flanders, early 17th c., probably from Antwerp workshops.
later frame