Artwork

"Shepherds and Shepherdesses in a Landscape

"Shepherds and Shepherdesses in a Landscape, by Hieronymus van der Mij, unspecified, 1735
"Shepherds and Shepherdesses in a Landscape, by Hieronymus van der Mij, unspecified, 1735

"Shepherds and Shepherdesses in a Landscape is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Hieronymus van der Mij. It dates from 1735 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

The work titled *Shepherds and Shepherdesses in a Landscape* is a painted composition that presents a verdant hillside populated by a small group of figures. Central to the scene is a female shepherd holding a wreath, while a kneeling male shepherd stands before her. Additional characters are shown dancing nearby, and a dog lies asleep in the grass, creating a tranquil, pastoral tableau.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts an idyllic rural gathering, suggesting themes of courtship and harmony within a shepherd’s world. Earlier scholarship linked the figures to the characters Amarilli and Mirtillo from an Italian pastoral drama, though this identification remains speculative and is not universally accepted.

Technique & Style

Executed in a gentle palette of greens and earth tones, the work employs soft lighting that bathes the figures in a diffused glow. The poses are fluid and graceful, contributing to a lyrical atmosphere characteristic of pastoral genre scenes, while the rendering of foliage and fabric demonstrates a careful attention to detail.

History & Provenance

The artist of the painting is currently unknown, and the work’s provenance prior to its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection has not been fully documented. Its attribution to a specific school or period remains open to further research.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hieronymus van der Mij

Hieronymus van der Mij (1687–1761) was an 18th-century portrait painter from the Dutch Republic.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.