Artwork
Flock of Sheep in a Wood
Flock of Sheep in a Wood is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob van der Does. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1655 by Dutch artist Jacob van der Does, this oil painting presents a tranquil rural tableau. A flock of white sheep, some bearing darker patches, occupies a sunlit clearing within a forested setting. Beyond the trees, gentle hills rise under a sky mottled with clouds, framing the pastoral scene with a sense of quiet depth.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on the domesticated flock, rendered with careful observation that emphasizes their natural behavior—standing, grazing, and resting.
The work centers on the domesticated flock, rendered with careful observation that emphasizes their natural behavior—standing, grazing, and resting. By situating the animals amid a wooded landscape, the artist highlights the harmony between livestock and the surrounding environment, a common motif in 17th‑century Dutch art that reflects both agricultural prosperity and an idealized view of rural life.
Technique & Style
Van der Does employs a realistic approach, using fine brushwork to capture the texture of the sheep’s wool and the subtle variations in their coloration. The foliage and distant hills are painted with broader strokes, creating a layered perspective that guides the eye toward the foreground. The muted palette and soft lighting contribute to a calm, naturalistic atmosphere typical of Dutch Golden Age landscape painting.
History & Provenance
Born in Amsterdam in 1623, Jacob van der Does worked primarily in the Dutch Golden Age before his death in Sloten in 1673. This particular canvas entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century European paintings, offering insight into the period’s genre and landscape traditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob van der Does (4 March 1623 in Amsterdam – buried 17 November 1673 in Sloten) was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.
