The Adoration of the Shepherds

Amico Aspertini, one of the most eccentric and inventive painters of the Bolognese school, painted this Adoration of the Shepherds around 1496. Aspertini's energetic, somewhat bizarre style drew on diverse sources including ancient Roman art, Northern European prints, and the work of Ercole de' Roberti. His unconventional approach made him one of the most distinctive artists of the early sixteenth century. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Aspertini's characteristic energetic figure drawing and eclectic stylistic references. The Nativity scene shows his distinctive blend of Classical, Northern, and Ferrarese influences.