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Notes

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This painting depicts the shepherds revering the newborn Christ, who is supported by Mary. The shepherds bring an offering of a lamb, which represents Christ's later sacrifice. Angels fly above, holding a scroll. This scene is referenced in The Gospel of Luke.

This is probably one of the artist's earliest surviving works and relates to another painting, similar in style and composition, also by Van Balen, which is part of the Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery Collection.