Artwork
Cattle Piece
Cattle Piece is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Philipp Peter Roos. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1694, *Cattle Piece* is an oil painting by Philipp Peter Roos, a German artist who spent much of his career in Italy. Executed in the Flemish Baroque idiom, the work presents a tranquil rural tableau populated by livestock and a solitary shepherd, set against a softly clouded sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition gathers goats, sheep, and a dog around a shepherd dressed in a hat and coat, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence of man and animal. The detailed rendering of fur and feather highlights the artist’s interest in natural observation, while the calm atmosphere suggests an idealized vision of pastoral life.
Technique & Style
Roos employs the chiaroscuro contrasts typical of Baroque painting, using light to model the textures of animal coats and the shepherd’s garments against a muted background. The careful brushwork captures the sheen of fur and the subtle gradations of sky, reinforcing a sense of three‑dimensionality within the landscape.
History & Provenance
After its execution, the painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s national gallery. Its presence in this public institution reflects the broader 17th‑century appreciation for genre scenes that combined narrative content with meticulous natural detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philipp Peter Roos (later surnamed Rosa di Tivoli; 1655–1706) was a German Baroque painter, active in and near Rome from 1677 onward.
