Who painted Shepherdess?

Shepherdess was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Shepherdess?

Shepherdess is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Shepherdess

Shepherdess is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750, *Shepherdess* is an image attributed to the artist catalogued as 30263_person. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a solitary female figure seated outdoors, rendered in monochrome, with a soft illumination that separates her visage from the surrounding foliage.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is dressed in loosely draped garments and wears a floral wreath, suggesting a pastoral identity. Holding a long staff, she appears to embody the traditional role of a shepherdess, a motif that often symbolised an idealized connection to nature and simple, rural life.

Technique & Style

Executed in black‑and‑white, the image employs chiaroscuro‑like contrasts, with gentle light falling on the woman's face while the background recedes into darker tones. The composition balances detailed rendering of the subject with loosely suggested foliage, creating a sense of depth without relying on color.

History & Provenance

The work dates to the mid‑18th century and has been retained within the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. Its attribution to 30263_person reflects the museum’s cataloguing system rather than a widely recognized name, indicating limited documentation beyond the institution’s records.