A group of shepherds gathers closely around a manger, their faces illuminated as they gaze toward the infant at the center of the scene. At the heart of the composition, a young woman sits beside the manger, gently holding a cloth that reveals a newborn child lying on a bed of straw. To her right, an older man stands with his hands clasped, leaning forward in a gesture of reverence, while a cow looks on from behind the manger.

On the left side, several shepherds crowd together, one holding a lamb over his shoulders, another kneeling with a basket at his feet, and others craning their necks to see the child. A donkey rests on the ground in the foreground, its head lowered and body curled, adding to the sense of humble surroundings. The figures are arranged in a semicircle, their gestures and expressions conveying awe, devotion, and quiet joy.

The setting is a rustic stable, suggested by rough stone walls, an arched doorway, and wooden beams visible in the background. Light falls from the upper left, illuminating the faces and hands of the central figures, while the background recedes into shadow, creating a dramatic contrast. The artist uses soft, fluid brushstrokes to model the figures and drapery, blending tones to achieve a sense of warmth and immediacy.

Details such as the texture of the straw, the folds of garments, and the gentle fur of the animals are rendered with careful attention. The composition draws the viewer’s focus to the infant, whose pale form stands out against the darker tones of the stable and the clothing of those gathered. The scene depicted is the adoration of the shepherds, a subject from Christian tradition in which humble visitors come to honor the newborn Christ. Adoration of the Shepherds is painted by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in the 17th century.

The date of the work is placed between 1650 and 1660. The Gemäldegalerie Berlin identifies this painting as part of its collection, with the subject described as the adoration of the shepherds.