Artwork
The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s oil painting titled *The Good Shepherd* dates to around 1660. Executed on canvas, the work measures a modest size and is part of the Prado Museum’s collection in Madrid, catalogued under inventory number P00962. The composition presents a youthful figure in a pastoral setting, embodying a tranquil, devotional theme.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the scene a young boy with curly brown hair sits on a rock, his hand resting gently on the back of a sheep. Dressed in a pink tunic and holding a wooden staff, he evokes the biblical image of the shepherd who cares for his flock, symbolising compassion and guidance.
Technique & Style
Murillo employs a restrained palette of soft, muted tones that lend the painting a calm atmosphere. The brushwork is delicate, especially in rendering the boy’s hair and the fleece of the animal. Atmospheric perspective is suggested by a lightly clouded sky and distant trees, creating depth without disrupting the intimate focus.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Spanish royal collection in the mid‑18th century. In 1744, Elisabeth Farnese acquired it, along with other pieces, from the heirs of Cardinal Gaspar de Molina y Oviedo. Since then it has remained in state ownership, eventually becoming part of the Prado’s permanent holdings.
Context
Created during Murillo’s early mature period, the painting reflects the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on accessible, emotive religious imagery. The gentle shepherd motif aligns with contemporary devotional practices that favored personal piety and the portrayal of Christ as a caring caretaker.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish: ; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
The Infant Saint John the Baptist with the Lamb
John the Baptist as a child
The Infant Saint John the Baptist
The Infant Saint John Playing with a Lamb
The Infant Saint John the Baptist
The Holy Children with a Shell
Saint John the Baptist
The Divine Shepherdess (La divina pastora)
Saint John the Baptist with the Lamb