How big can you print it?
Standard frame sizes, turned to match the artwork. "Crops" is how much of the picture you lose filling that frame edge to edge — or keep it all and let a mat take up the difference.
| Frame | Effective dpi | Verdict | Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 in | 311 | Gallery sharp | 18% |
| 11 × 14 in | 226 | Sharp up close | 17% |
| 12 × 16 in | 207 | Sharp up close | 13% |
| 16 × 20 in | 155 | Poster sharp | 18% |
| 18 × 24 in | 138 | Fine across a room | 13% |
| 24 × 36 in | 103 | Fine across a room | 2% |
| 30 × 40 in | 83 | Too soft | 13% |
The ticket
The Adoration of the Shepherds is a painting by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) (Greek, Iráklion (Candia) 1541–1614 Toledo), dated ca. 1605–10. Oil on canvas. Size on the museum record: 56 7/8 x 39 7/8 in. (144.5 x 101.3 cm); with added strips 64 1/2 x 42 in. (163.8 x 106.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds it in its European Paintings collection — Rogers Fund, 1905.
The Met released its scan under CC0, which means no permission, no fee and no credit line required. That file is 2,495 × 3,824 pixels — 9.5 megapixels — good for a gallery-sharp print up to 8.3 × 12.7 in. The painting itself measures about 39.9 × 56.9 in, so a true life-size print runs below 300 dpi — still sharp at normal viewing distance.Paintings reproduce best on matte paper. Gloss throws glare across exactly the brushwork you came for, and a picture light does more for a print than any upgrade in paper.
Looking closer
The infant Christ is the light source in El Greco’s Adoration of the Shepherds. Faces and hands gather around that glow while the edges recede into a crowded night. The Met describes the movement of the shepherds as a way to show their excitement, and notes that a gap in the tightly woven group gives the viewer a place to enter the scene. It is a religious narrative with the energy of a room suddenly waking up. The museum dates this canvas to about 1605–10 and records at least eight versions of the subject in El Greco’s studio when he died.
This is a tall composition, so try it where a vertical frame can have some breathing room. The Met’s 2,495 × 3,824 pixel file gives you a real size limit, not a vague “high resolution” promise. Check the dpi and crop column above before ordering: an edge-to-edge standard frame may cut into the outer figures. A mat lets you keep the entire image. The free download leads to the museum’s own file, and its object number, 05.42, is in the receipt below.
Artwork history and object details: The Met’s collection record ↗
On the receipt
- Artist
- El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)
- Date
- ca. 1605–10
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Size
- 56 7/8 x 39 7/8 in. (144.5 x 101.3 cm); with added strips 64 1/2 x 42 in. (163.8 x 106.7 cm)
- Museum
- The Met · European Paintings
- Accession
- 05.42
- License
- Public domain · CC0 1.0
- Source
- Museum record ↗
Put this work on your wall
Pick a size, then order the art, its matching frame and the finishing gear. If this work has no ready-made print, download the free file and upload it to the linked custom printer.
Print and frame use the same outside size. Preview the image placement before buying.
A mat needs a smaller print and a custom opening. We'll recalculate both below. Check the frame's actual opening before cutting.
The light width follows your frame size.
- Art print24 × 36 in · verify the listing matches this artworkCheck print ↗
- Matching frame24 × 36 in · check inside dimensionsCheck frame ↗
- Uncut mat boardCut opening to 20.75 × 31.85 in; confirm dimensions before cuttingCheck mat ↗
- Hanging kit + levelOne kit for this wallCheck kit ↗
- Picture lightOptional finishing touchCheck light ↗
Unverified listings are under review. We will activate purchase links when the exact artwork and size are confirmed.
Add set to Amazon cart ↗Amazon sells the physical items, sets their prices and availability, and may pay us a commission. The free museum file is separate. How we get paid →
