Skip to main content

The Angel appearing to the Shepherds: 23.K.5-63

An image of Print
View image details

Terms of use

The low-resolution images published on this Website are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY-NC-ND). For more details: Fitzwilliam Terms of Use

This licence does not include any images of works that are still in copyright. Artistic copyright extends from the life of the artist to 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.

Download this image

For further information on use of images or to license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who can discuss terms and fees.

Current Location: In storage

Titles

The Angel appearing to the Shepherds

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Entities

Categories

Description

An angel with arm raised stands in light-filled cloud with cherubim circling above at upper right; three shepherds in the landscape below; one on his knees to the left and another running towards the right. Panicked cattle run away towards the left where a boy stands. Trees and palms on a hillside in the background.

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1816) by Fitzwilliam, Richard, 7th Viscount

Dating

1630s
Production date: AD 1634 : signed and dated from II/III

Note

III/III. Counterproof.

School or Style

Dutch

Materials used in production

Black carbon ink

Components of the work

Support composed of paper
Image Height 262 mm Width 221 mm
Sheet Height 262 mm Width 221 mm

Techniques used in production

Drypoint
Counterproof
Engraving
Etching

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Rembrandt. f
  • Location: Image lower left
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Signature
  • Text: 1634
  • Location: Image lower left, after signature
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Date

Identification numbers

Accession number: 23.K.5-63
Primary reference Number: 79504
Hollstein (Dutch/Flemish): B44 III/III
Biörklund/Barnard: BB34-I III/III
Old location number: 38.12.7b

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "The Angel appearing to the Shepherds" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/79504 Accessed: 2025-12-08 07:32:15

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/79504 |title=The Angel appearing to the Shepherds |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-08 07:32:15|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-79504

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp80/23_K_5_63_1_201712_sjc288_dc2.jpg"
        alt="The Angel appearing to the Shepherds"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">The Angel appearing to the Shepherds</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo