Artwork
A Shepherd and a Nymph
A Shepherd and a Nymph is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum. The work depicts a youthful male and female figure seated together within an open landscape.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
A Shepherd and a Nymph depicts a mythological encounter between a young male shepherd and a youthful nymph within a pastoral landscape, drawing on the symbolic language of pastoral poetry and Renaissance mythological painting to evoke themes of innocence, desire, and the fleeting nature of rural idylls. The composition follows the conventional iconography of shepherd and nymph pairs, often associated with amorous allegory and the idealized harmony of nature, while the surrounding terrain reinforces the genre’s pastoral symbolism. This interpretation aligns with the work’s classification as a mythological painting and its stylistic derivation from Titian’s thematic repertoire, as noted in its source documentation.
Technique & Style
Art historical analysis identifies the work as an anonymous creation after Titian, based on his composition The Three Ages of Man.
A Shepherd and a Nymph is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 81 cm in height and 90 cm in width. Stylistically, the painting is classified as a mythological genre piece, depicting a shepherd, a nymph, and a landscape.
Art historical analysis identifies the work as an anonymous creation after Titian, based on his composition The Three Ages of Man. The piece dates to the year 1600.
History & Provenance
Created around 1600, this oil on canvas painting is an anonymous work executed after Titian, specifically based on his composition The Three Ages of Man. The piece measures 81 by 90 centimeters and depicts a mythological scene featuring a shepherd and a nymph within a landscape.
The work entered the collection of the Ashmolean Museum in 1939. It was acquired through a bequest from Miss Mabel Price, who left the painting to the institution in that year. Upon accession, it was assigned the inventory number WA1939.16.
Overview
The work depicts a youthful male and female figure seated together within an open landscape. The man, bare‑chested and girded with a brown cloth, gazes toward the woman, who is dressed in a white top and red skirt while holding a flute to her lips. Behind them, trees and a body of water extend into the distance, creating a serene natural setting.
Artist & collection
