Shepherds Following Their Flock
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Shepherds Following Their Flock is a 1655 ink by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of people herding sheep and goats along a winding path. The trees and bushes are drawn with quick, sketchy lines, giving a sense of movement. The landscape has a rough, textured look, like the artist was in a hurry—or just wanted it that way. Notice how the figures and animals blend into the background. The artist used shading to make the scene feel three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Want to see more like this? Look up etching to learn how artists create these kinds of prints.
