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Herdsmen Driving Cattle across a Stream

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

1760

chalk

paperboard

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Herdsmen Driving Cattle across a Stream is a 1760 chalk by Jean-Baptiste Deshays, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jean-Baptiste Deshays
When & what style?: 1760 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a man herding sheep across a shallow stream. The water is rough, and the sheep are tangled in a red blanket. The sky is pale and cloudy, with quick brushstrokes that make it look windy. The man is dressed in simple clothes, holding a stick to guide the animals. The brushwork is loose and sketchy, almost like a quick study. The colors are mostly earthy browns and soft whites, with a few red accents from the blanket. It feels like a moment frozen in time, messy and real. Next, check out the technique: impasto to see how thick paint layers create texture.