Adoration of the Shepherds by Jusepe de Ribera. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jusepe de Ribera was a leading Spanish painter, although his mature work was done in Italy. His painting Adoration of the Shepherds portray a scene from the Nativity in which shepherds and their sheep pay homage to the newborn Jesus. In Western culture, the shepherd appears as a virtuous soul because he lives close to nature, uncorrupted by the temptations of the city.