Artwork
Landscape with Cattle Driver and Shepherd
Landscape with Cattle Driver and Shepherd is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Jacob van Strij. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
5 centimeters in width, the support remains stable with no documented alterations or conservation interventions noted in the cited records.
The work is an oil painting executed on wood panel, reflecting early nineteenth-century Dutch landscape practice. Jacob van Strij applied oil paint with fine brushwork to render a pastoral scene of cattle movement and shepherding, emphasizing atmospheric depth and precise naturalistic detail. The composition balances expansive sky with grounded activity, showcasing formal restraint and careful handling of light.
Measured at 57 centimeters in height and 83.5 centimeters in width, the support remains stable with no documented alterations or conservation interventions noted in the cited records.
History & Provenance
Landscape with Cattle Driver and Shepherd, an 1807 oil painting by Jacob van Strij, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. According to the Wikidata record, the work is located at the Rijksmuseum and forms part of its holdings, painted in oil on panel with dimensions of 57 by 83.5 (cm).
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created in 1807, this oil on canvas by Dutch artist Jacob van Strij portrays a tranquil rural landscape at twilight. A rider in a vivid red coat guides a herd of cattle along a winding path, while a shepherd boy tends a flock of sheep nearby. The composition extends toward gentle hills and a distant waterway, suffused with a warm, golden sky.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents everyday agrarian life, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between humans, livestock, and the natural environment. The juxtaposition of the cattle driver and the shepherd suggests a shared stewardship of the land, while the calm atmosphere conveys a sense of stability and continuity in the countryside.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob van Strij (2 October 1756 – 4 February 1815) was a Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman who was mainly interested in landscape painting, including mountain landscapes, winter landscapes and marines.
