GOLTZIUS, Hendrick
(b. 1558, Mühlbrecht, d. 1617, Haarlem)

Virgin and Child with Angels (detail)

1607
Oil on canvas
Private collection

Outside in the distance a group of shepherds are awakened by a burst of light surrounding an angel announcing the birth of the Child. In addition to these external sources of light, the Christ Child is imbued with a divine light, which emanates as a flickering halo visible mainly at the top of his head.