The Shepherds and the Angels Luke 2:13 Wall Art

A row of angels stands in arched niches across the top of this wide fresco scene, wings folded at their sides. Below them runs a band of blue sky with a single star, and under the sky a row of hooded shepherds sits shoulder to shoulder against a terracotta wall. Every figure is faceless, and the palette stays in apricot, ochre, sage, cream and terracotta. A cream band below sets the title and Luke 2:13 in serif type.

The meaning of Luke 2:13 in this scene

Luke 2:13 in the King James Version reads: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying," The verse ends on a comma, because the song itself follows in the next line. What it describes is the moment one messenger becomes a crowd. The artwork takes that literally. The angels fill the whole upper band from edge to edge, too many to count at a glance, while the shepherds below sit in a row of the same length. The star in the narrow strip of sky between them is the only thing the two groups share. The composition is built on that division between heaven above and the field below, with the news passing from one to the other.

Warm fresco color for The Shepherds and the Angels

The scene is organized in three horizontal bands. The angels stand in front of rounded arches in apricot and ochre, the middle strip is a soft blue sky with the star at its center, and the shepherds sit against a terracotta ground in hooded robes of rust, blue, sage, ochre and cream. A matte fresco texture runs over the whole surface. Because each row repeats almost evenly, the print reads like a calm painted frieze, and it suits a long wall above a sideboard, a bench or a bed. The cream band below closes the picture with the title and reference.

Who may value The Shepherds and the Angels artwork

The Shepherds and the Angels fits Advent and Christmas, and since the verse is about a heavenly choir, it makes a fitting gift for a choir member, a worship leader or a pastor. It also suits a baptism or a housewarming. The warm palette does not depend on red and green, so it can stay up after the holidays in a family room, a music room, a hallway or a ministry space. Together with The Nativity and The Wise Men Follow the Star it forms a fresco Christmas series, and the three scenes can hang side by side.

Four landscape ratios and one portrait plate

You receive five 300 DPI JPEG files: four landscape versions in 3:2, 4:3, 5:4 and 14:11, and a 2:3 portrait plate that sets the same three bands on an upright sheet. A PDF lists the print sizes that go with each file. The wide 3:2 file gives the long rows the most room, while 5:4 and 14:11 suit a squarer frame. Match the file to the frame before printing, so the outer angels and shepherds are not cut off, and choose matte paper to keep the fresco surface soft. Nothing physical is shipped.

Sizes and formats

Frequently asked questions

Is The Shepherds and the Angels delivered as a physical print?

No. This is a digital download that is available right after checkout, and no print, frame or mat is mailed. The framed room images only show scale. Keep a copy of the original files, then print the ratio that matches your frame at home, at a local print shop or with an online printing service.

Which files are included for The Shepherds and the Angels?

Five high resolution JPEG files at 300 DPI and a PDF. The JPEGs cover 3:2, 4:3, 5:4 and 14:11 in landscape, plus one 2:3 portrait plate for an upright frame. The PDF names the standard frame sizes for every ratio, so you can check your frame before printing.

How should I choose a file for my frame?

Measure the frame opening and find its ratio: 18x12 inches is 3:2, 16x12 inches is 4:3, 14x11 inches is 14:11, and an upright 12x18 inch frame takes the 2:3 plate. Print that file at its own proportion. If a print service crops automatically, switch that off, or the end figures of each row can be lost.

What paper works well with this fresco style?

Matte or fine art paper suits the chalky fresco surface and keeps the blue band from looking glossy. A natural white paper keeps the cream areas warm. Colors shift a little between screens and printers, so a small test print is a good idea before you order a large one.

Can the artwork files be shared or sold?

No. The files are licensed for personal display and for gifts you give in person. Sharing the files, reselling prints, redistributing the design or using it commercially is not permitted. If you are unsure whether a use is covered, ask support@theframedverse.com before you print.