Who painted Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses?

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses was painted by Gerard van Honthorst in 1632.

Where can I see Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses?

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses?

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses

Gerard van Honthorst , 1632

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard van Honthorst. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint on canvas in 1632, the work employs a smooth, evenly lit handling typical of Utrecht Caravaggism, with sharply modeled figures emerging from a dark ground. The composition arranges a central flutist in a broad-brimmed hat flanked by four shepherdesses, their gestures and glances creating a rhythmic progression across the horizontal format. Stylistic hallmarks include the pronounced chiaroscuro that isolates the figures in pools of light, heightened by the reflective sheen of satin sleeves and the matte finish of woolen garments.

The canvas’s size (92 cm high by 174.5 cm wide) accommodates an expansive yet closely framed scene, emphasizing intimate interaction through closely observed physiognomies and carefully balanced poses.

History & Provenance

The painting Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses by Gerard van Honthorst is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The painting was created in 1632 by Gerard van Honthorst, as indicated by its documented inception date.

It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains located. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 92 cm in height by 174.5 cm in width.

The painting Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses by Gerard van Honthorst is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Created in 1632, the work is an oil on canvas measuring 92 cm in height and 174.5 cm in width. The provided sources confirm the artwork's current location and physical dimensions but do not list a specific inventory or accession number. Additionally, the available records contain no information regarding the painting's exhibition history.

Overview

Shepherd playing the flute, and four shepherdesses is a 1632 oil painting by Gerard van Honthorst, a Dutch Golden Age artist. It is a genre scene characteristic of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts five pastoral figures in an outdoor setting, surrounded by fruit and flowers. The figures engage in leisurely activities, with one playing a flute and another holding grapes.

A Shepherd's Concert, Jan Gerritsz van Bronckhorst

Artist & collection

Artist

Gerard van Honthorst

Gerard "Gerrit" van Honthorst (4 November 1592 – 27 April 1656) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who became known for his depiction of artificially lit scenes, eventually receiving the Italian nickname Gherardo delle Notti ("Gerard of the…