Adoration of the Shepherds

Question

by Nicolaes Maes

Digital image courtesy of the
Getty’s Open Content Program

Question
Which of the following is present in this painting?

(1 point)
Responses

mostly warm, bright oranges and reds
mostly warm, bright oranges and reds

tactile texture the viewer can feel
tactile texture the viewer can feel

contrast in value between light and dark
contrast in value between light and dark

radical balance from the painting’s center

Answer 1

The painting "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Nicolaes Maes is known for its use of chiaroscuro, which is a strong contrast between light and dark areas. This technique emphasizes the dramatic impact of the nativity scene and guides the viewer's attention to the focal points of the composition.

So, among the options provided, the one present in this painting would be:

contrast in value between light and dark

As for the other options, "mostly warm, bright oranges and reds" might not be accurate as Maes often employed a more muted palette with selective use of warm light to highlight his subjects. "Tactile texture the viewer can feel" is a quality that can't be determined from a digital image and typically refers to the physical texture of the paint on the canvas, which might be implied visually but not experienced through a digital representation. "Radical balance from the painting’s center" is a less clear option, but it seems to suggest a symmetrical balance, which is not characteristic of Maes' compositions which often have asymmetrical balance focusing on narrative elements rather than geometry.