Artwork
Un redil de ovejas extramuros de la puerta de Bilbao de Madrid
Un redil de ovejas extramuros de la puerta de Bilbao de Madrid is an oil painting by the Realist artist Mariano de la Roca y Delgado. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Mariano de la Roca y Delgado’s 1862 oil on canvas, titled *Un redil de ovejas extramuros de la puerta de Bilbao de Madrid*, is part of the Prado Museum’s collection. The work depicts a tranquil rural tableau in which a flock of predominantly white sheep is confined within a low fence, under the watch of a few dogs.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the shepherding activity near the historic Bilbao gate of Madrid, showing livestock, guard dogs, and a few onlookers who stand or sit nearby. The peaceful arrangement of animals and figures suggests a harmonious relationship between humans, animals, and the landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a balanced contrast of light and shadow to model the forms of the sheep, dogs, and distant hills. Soft, atmospheric blues in the sky and muted earth tones in the background create depth, while the brushwork conveys the texture of wool and foliage.
History & Provenance
Created in 1862, the canvas entered the Museo del Prado’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s 19th‑century interest in Spanish genre scenes that document everyday rural life.
Context
The work belongs to the broader Romantic interest in pastoral subjects, where artists emphasized natural settings and emotive tranquility. By focusing on a specific locale near Madrid’s Bilbao gate, the painting also records a recognizable urban‑rural interface of the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mariano de la Roca y Delgado (1825–1872) was an artist, born in Seville.
