Artwork
Ram and Two Sheep
Ram and Two Sheep is a print by the Baroque artist Johann Heinrich Roos. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Heinrich Roos’s print Ram and Two Sheep, dated 1665, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Executed as an etching, the work presents a pastoral scene in which a ram stands protectively over two recumbent sheep within a grassy meadow, framed by a modest dwelling, trees, and a cloudy sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on domestic livestock, emphasizing the ram’s dominant posture and the tranquil repose of the sheep. The absence of human figures directs attention to the natural hierarchy among the animals, suggesting themes of guardianship and the quiet rhythms of rural life.
Technique & Style
Roos employs fine, closely spaced lines to render the texture of wool and fur, creating a tactile sense of the animals’ coats. The delicate hatching conveys the softness of the meadow and the atmospheric sky, while the overall handling reflects the Baroque interest in detailed observation of everyday subjects.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the etching entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). Its presence in a major American museum underscores the continued scholarly and curatorial interest in Roos’s depictions of pastoral life.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
