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A Shepherd with his Flock in a Woody Landscape

Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640)

The National Gallery, London

A Shepherd with his Flock in a Woody Landscape

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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We look down from a height on a rocky outcrop of ground surrounded by trees, their reflection caught in the tranquil stream drifting past. The woods are dark and dense but unthreatening. There’s a pathway through the undergrowth towards the light.A shepherd leans on his crook, his flock beside him. Although the sun shines brightest on the sheep, it’s the glowing red of the boy’s jacket in the shadow that serves to brighten the whole picture, and which catches the eye first.Rubens’s love of the natural world is shown in the meticulous, realistic detail with which he has painted the various textures -- rocks and pebbles, shaggy wool, stringy blades of grass, water and myriad kinds of leaf. Many of his exquisite drawings still exist in the museums and galleries of the world, revealing to us his fascination and understanding of nature.

The National Gallery, London

London

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Title

A Shepherd with his Flock in a Woody Landscape

Date

probably 1615-22

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 64.3 x W 94.3 cm

Accession number

NG2924

Acquisition method

Presented by Rosalind, Countess of Carlisle, 1913

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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Artist or maker

Peter Paul Rubens

1577–1640

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