Who painted Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks)?

Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks) was painted by Aert van der Neer in 1635.

Where can I see Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks)?

Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks) is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks)?

Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks)

Aert van der Neer , 1635

Landscape with Four Cows (Cattle and Ducks) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aert van der Neer. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1635, this oil painting by Aert van der Neer portrays a tranquil rural scene populated by four cows, a group of ducks, and a herder. The composition is set beside a waterway framed by trees and open grass, under a light sky that suggests daytime. The work is currently housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The central focus lies on the domestic animals—four cattle and several waterfowl—arranged in the foreground, emphasizing the everyday life of a Dutch countryside. A solitary herder watches over the herd, reinforcing themes of pastoral stewardship and the harmonious coexistence of humans and livestock within a peaceful landscape.

Technique & Style

Van der Neer employs a clear, naturalistic palette typical of Dutch Golden Age landscape painting, rendering light and atmosphere with subtle gradations. The brushwork delineates foliage, water, and sky with fine detail, while the spatial depth is achieved through diminishing tree silhouettes and distant hills, creating a balanced, expansive view.

History & Provenance

Although van der Neer worked largely in obscurity, his oeuvre was later recognized for its quality. The painting entered the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it remains on display, providing an example of the artist’s early landscape production before his later focus on nocturnal scenes.

Context

A contemporary of Aelbert Cuyp and Meindert Hobbema, van der Neer contributed to the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with realistic, detailed depictions of the natural world. This work reflects the period’s interest in agrarian subjects, showcasing the everyday environment of the Netherlands during the 17th century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Aert van der Neer

Aert van der Neer, or Aernout or Artus (c. 1603 – 9 November 1677), was a landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, who specialized in small night scenes lit only by moonlight and fires, and snowy winter landscapes,…