The Adoration of the Shepherds

Dietrich's Adoration of the Shepherds represents his religious subjects in a softer, more Italianate manner than his Rembrandt-style works. The versatility that allowed Dietrich to paint convincingly in multiple historical styles made him one of the most commercially successful German painters of the 18th century, though later critics viewed his eclecticism as a lack of original vision. His work documents the 18th-century taste for paintings that recalled the Old Masters.

The oil-on-canvas painting demonstrates a softer, more atmospheric approach than Dietrich's Rembrandt-style works, with warm, glowing light radiating from the Christ Child. The delicate brushwork and gentle coloring show his ability to adapt his technique to different stylistic models.