Artwork
Mowing and Shearing, or The Summer
Mowing and Shearing, or The Summer is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Fiammingo. It dates from 1551 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Paolo Fiammingo, a Flemish-born painter who trained in Antwerp before establishing his career in Venice, executed the oil work *Mowing and Shearing, or The Summer* in 1551. The canvas belongs to the genre‑scene tradition of the mid‑Sixteenth century and is classified within the Mannerist style. It is presently part of the Museo del Prado’s holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a bustling rural landscape beside a river, where laborers attend to sheep, shear wool, and tend to a cheese‑making station. A kneeling figure in a red shirt handles a lamb, while a woman in blue watches and children linger nearby. The scene celebrates seasonal agricultural activity, echoing the traditional allegory of summer’s abundance.
Technique & Style
Fiammingo employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated flesh and wool with deeper shadows to model form and texture. The handling of oil paint renders the softness of wool and the sheen of water, while the arrangement of figures reflects the elongated proportions and dynamic poses typical of Mannerist composition.
History & Provenance
After its creation in the early 1550s, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Spanish national museum. Its presence in the Museo del Prado confirms its recognition as a representative example of Venetian‑influenced Flemish genre painting of the period.
Context
Fiammingo’s oeuvre is noted for integrating mythological, allegorical, and religious subjects into expansive landscapes. In *Mowing and Shearing* he aligns with contemporaries such as Tintoretto, Veronese, and the Bassano family, whose influence is evident in the vibrant coloration, compositional depth, and the blending of everyday labor with a subtle narrative tone.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pauwels Franck, known in Italy as Paolo Fiammingo and Paolo Franceschi (c. 1540–1596), was a Flemish painter, who, after training in Antwerp, was active in Venice for most of his life. He is mainly known for his…
