At this time artists began to give a realistic description of rural peasant life for the first time, in biblical subjects, as here where angel announce the birth of Christ. The realict scene means that shepherds clothing is shown as torn, their faces are sunburnt, and one shepherd is still asleep. This painting has been attributed to various artists but the true painter's name is still unknown, so he is known by the name of the subject he most often painted, the Master of the Annunciations to Shepherds.