Nativity and adoration of shepherds

myminifactory

The young woman on the lower left reaches over to Jesus, gently wiping his face with her hand. St. Joseph stands behind her, while in the foreground a cow and donkey are sculpted in three-dimensional relief. Four shepherds gather around them, one kneeling on a broken column base holds a lamb from his arm, while another shepherd carries another lamb on his shoulders. The last two shepherds appear bearded and seem to be conversing with each other. This scene is set amidst a classic architectural backdrop featuring fluted columns and a temple. Through the use of relief and depth, Bachelier has created an impressive illusion of perspective. The animation of the scene comes from the characters' body language and the detailed treatment of their clothing folds, as well as their flowing, decorative hair.