The Bible In Paintings: SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR, Part 2

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Bible In Paintings 2
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRECIATING AND APPLYING GOD'S WORD

SHEPHERDS,
FIRST TO SEE
THE SAVIOR

L U K E
CHAPTER 2

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

1
CARLO SARACENI
"Adoration of the Shepherds"
Typical title

2
STEFANO MARIA LEGNANI
Source

3
SEBASTIANO CONCA
Source

4
EL GRECO
Source

5
EL GRECO
Source

6
GIORGIO GIORGIONE
Source

7
CARLO DOLCI
Source

8
FEDERICO ZUCCARO
Source

9
JAN COSSIERS
Source

10
REMBRANDT
Source

11
CHARLE VAN LOO
Source

12
ANTONIO DEL CASTILLO Y SAAVEDRA
Source

13
Source

14
CHARLES LEBRUN
Source

15
JUAN CORREA DE VIVAR
Source

16
BENJAMIN GERRITSZ CUYP
Source

17
GASPAR DE CRAYER
Source

18
GIOVANNI GEROLAMO SAVOLDO
Source

19
JACOB VAN OOST the Elder
Source

20
JACOB JORDAENS
Source

21
JACOB JORDAENS
Source

22
JACOB JORDAENS
Source

23
ANTHONIE BLOCKLANDT VAN MONTFOORT
Source

24
ANTONIO DA CORREGGIO
Source

25
DOMENICHINO
Source

26
GIOVANNI BALDUCCI
Source

27
MARTIN SCHONGAUER
Source

28
CARAVAGGIO
Source

29
HUGO VAN DER GOES
Source

30
HUGO VAN DER GOES
Source

31
PAOLO DI MATTEIS
Source

32
WILLIAM BELL SCOTT
Source

33
JAN STEEN
Source

34
JAMES TISSOT
Source

35
FRANCISCO DE ZURBARAN
Source

36
FRANCISCO DE ZURBARAN
Source

37
CHRISTIAN WILHELM ERNST DIETRICH
Source

38
MARCELLUS COFFERMANS
Source

39
HANS VON AACHEN
Source

40
CORRADO GIAQUINTO
Source

41
GIOVANNI DOMENICO TIEPOLO
Source

42
GASPAR MIGUEL DE BERRIO
Source

43
PEDRO ORRENTE
Source

44
JUAN RIBALTA
Source

45
GUIDO RENI
Source

46
GERARD VAN HONTHORST
Source

47
ANGELO BRONZINO
Source

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

48
EDWARD BURNE-JONES
Source

To be continued…

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[spankalib]

Haha! So I checked more closely for Zampognari (thanks for that wonderful, evocative story eta!). Not as unusual as I first thought! ‘Pipers’ are also pictured in:

#1 by Carlo Saracini
#3 by Sebastiano Conca
#9 by Jan Cossiers
#13 probably (the boy blowing on something on the far right)
#17 by De Crayer
#20 by Jordaens (although it could be, arguably, “just a flute”)
#25 by Domenichino
#29 by Van Der Goes (although it could be, arguably, “just a flute”)
#33 by Jan Steen
#39 by Von Aachen
#45 by Reni
#47 by Bronzino

IOW, fully 25% of these selections.

I learned something in searching for Zampognari.
Each of these works evokes differing emotions. Fantastic!

[Hebrews 11:6]

As ever, your observational initiative wins the day, John.

And what better occasion on which to blow those pipes!

[etabeta]

The zampognari are often accompanied by another shepherd playing a piffero (fife), also called a ciaramella. Glad you found so many of the paintings having these instruments.

[spankalib]

Thanks to both of you, I "looked for it"

...and discovered, rather serendipitously, when I actively "looked for" something, whether it'd be pipers, scolls, ox/donks, or lambs,

...that the paintings/artworks took on added character and deeper meaning.

EG: I just happened to notice that in many instances, the ox was portrayed more in the light, more 'present', whereas the donkey was more often in shadow, maybe to suggest 'in the (dimly seen at the time) future'.

Try it for yourselves maybe....see what happens...say, which of the paintings contain an ox/donk + lamb + scroll + piper? 2 out of 4? 2 out of 3? etc. Might be interesting for you as it was for me. I hope so!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Might circle back to that, but presently my ability to focus is in full use in preparing a future thread.