The Adoration of the Shepherds 1607

Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen created this silver relief panel, "The Adoration of the Shepherds," sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It depicts the biblical scene of humble shepherds paying homage to the newborn Christ, heralded by angels. Produced during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural growth for the Netherlands, this work reflects the era's artistic values and its complex relationship with religion. The choice of silver as a medium signifies wealth and status, reflecting the economic prosperity of the Dutch Republic at the time. Yet, the subject matter—the adoration of Christ by humble shepherds—introduces a contrasting theme of piety. This intersection of wealth, religion, and artistic expression is characteristic of Dutch art during this period. To understand this work better, we might consider the social function of religious art in the Dutch Republic, and the complex ways in which this was used in the making of national identity.