Artwork
Shepherdess and a Flock of Sheep
Shepherdess and a Flock of Sheep is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Frans Soolmaker. It is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a young shepherdess standing beside a flock of sheep, a traditional pastoral motif that symbolizes innocence and rural virtue.
The painting presents a young shepherdess standing beside a flock of sheep, a traditional pastoral motif that symbolizes innocence and rural virtue. In 17th‑century Dutch art such imagery often conveyed moral lessons about stewardship and the harmony between humanity and nature, reflecting the sitter’s modest status and the era’s idealized view of country life.
Executed in oil on panel around 1660, the work measures 33 cm by 43 cm and exemplifies the Dutch landscape genre’s focus on everyday scenes imbued with symbolic resonance.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring 33 cm in height and 43 cm in width. It portrays a shepherdess with a flock of sheep, rendered in a landscape composition typical of 17th‑century Dutch painting. The brushwork is delicate, emphasizing naturalistic detail and subtle tonal variation, while the handling of light contributes to a serene, pastoral atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The painting Shepherdess and a Flock of Sheep by Jan Frans Soolmaker was created in 1660 in the Netherlands. Executed in oil on panel, the work depicts a woman tending a flock within a landscape setting. Historical records indicate that the piece was formerly part of the collection owned by Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky.
It is currently held by the Hermitage Museum, where it remains a part of their permanent holdings derived from the aforementioned collection.
Overview
Jan Frans Soolmaker, a Flemish painter active around 1660, produced the oil painting Shepherdess and a Flock of Sheep. The work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age landscape tradition and is presently owned by the State Hermitage Museum.
Context
The work aligns with mid‑17th‑century Dutch interest in Arcadian and equestrian themes, portraying an idealized countryside that served both decorative and moral purposes. Such scenes often symbolized harmony between humanity and nature.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Frans Soolmaker (1635 – after 1665, possibly 1686) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman, mainly known for his Italianizing landscapes, with equestrian and arcadian scenes.
