Artwork
Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound

Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound is an oil painting by the Realist artist Johan Lundbye. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter reflects a direct observation of nature, characteristic of the genre, emphasizing the presence of the flock in their environment.
Johan Lundbye's 1845 oil painting depicts a pastoral landscape centered on a mound populated by sheep and a ram. The composition incorporates natural elements such as a tree and rock formations to frame the animal figures within an evening setting. As a work of animal art and landscape painting, the piece focuses on the literal representation of rural life and livestock rather than employing complex allegorical symbolism.
The subject matter reflects a direct observation of nature, characteristic of the genre, emphasizing the presence of the flock in their environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1845, this work is an oil painting on canvas by Johan Lundbye. The composition measures 33 cm in height and 51.5 cm in width. As a landscape piece incorporating elements of animal art, the image depicts a pastoral setting featuring sheep and a ram situated on a mound.
The scene is further defined by the inclusion of natural elements such as trees and rocks, rendered to evoke an evening atmosphere. The work is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
Johan Lundbye created the oil painting Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound in 1845. The work was executed on canvas and measures 33 cm in height by 51.5 cm in width. It depicts a landscape featuring sheep, a ram, a tree, and a rock. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound is part of the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work is catalogued in the museum’s holdings, though no specific accession or inventory number is disclosed in the referenced records. Exhibition history is not documented in the supplied sources, and the painting has not been listed in publicly noted exhibitions within the provided documentation.
The painting, completed in 1845, measures 33 cm in height and 51.5 cm in width, as recorded in the museum’s catalog.
Overview
Johan Thomas Lundbye, a Danish painter and graphic artist, completed Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound in 1845. This oil painting exemplifies the realism movement, capturing a tranquil moment in the Danish countryside. It depicts a flock of sheep on a grassy hill at dusk, with trees and a rocky outcrop contributing to a serene natural setting. The work is a characteristic example of Lundbye's focus on rural life and landscapes.
Context
Evening Scene with Sheep on a Mound emerged during a period influenced by art historian Niels Laurits Høyen’s nationalist appeal for Danish artists to portray their homeland. Lundbye responded to this call by concentrating on the characteristic scenery of Zealand, his native island. His works frequently featured animals and elements of rural life, contributing to a visual identity for Denmark rooted in its natural environment and everyday existence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johan Thomas Lundbye (1 September 1818 – 25 April 1848) was a Danish painter and graphic artist, known for his animal and landscape paintings.









