Who painted Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream?

Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream was painted by Marco Ricci in 1702.

Where can I see Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream?

Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream?

Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream?

Museum-quality prints of Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream

Marco Ricci , 1702

Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream is an ink print by the Baroque artist Marco Ricci. It dates from 1702 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: MR.f; upper left in plate: 2

About this work

Overview

Marco Ricci’s 1702 etching titled Cattle and Figures at a Farmyard Stream presents a tranquil rural tableau rendered on blue laid paper. The composition captures a pastoral setting where livestock, a distant rider, and a modest thatched dwelling coexist beside a gently flowing stream.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a bucolic scene: cows linger near the water’s edge, a solitary horseman traverses a path in the background, and a small thatched house is set behind a low fence, framed by trees and shrubbery. The arrangement suggests a harmonious relationship between human activity and the natural landscape.

Technique & Style

Ricci employed the traditional etching process, incising lines into a metal plate with a needle and then using acid to bite the design. The resulting dark lines are set against a subtle blue ground, while careful shading creates a sense of spatial depth, lending the image both detail and calm.

History & Provenance

Created in the early eighteenth century, the print reflects Ricci’s engagement with the Italian veduta tradition. It survives on blue laid paper, a common support for prints of the period, and is catalogued among his known works from the same year.