Artwork
Landscape with Cattle
Landscape with Cattle is an oil painting by Philipp Peter Roos. It dates from 1691 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. Created circa 1691, this oil on canvas presents a bucolic scene populated by cattle, sheep and goats.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1691, this oil on canvas presents a bucolic scene populated by cattle, sheep and goats. A kneeling figure in a white shirt and blue breeches examines a white goat, while a brown cow stands protectively behind him. The composition unfolds across a rocky, undulating terrain under a cloud‑filled sky, with distant birds tracing the air.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of pastoral labor, juxtaposing human observation with the calm of domesticated animals. The kneeling man, perhaps a shepherd or caretaker, draws attention to the goat, suggesting a focus on the everyday interactions between people and livestock within a rural landscape.
Technique & Style
Rendered in earthy pigments, the painting emphasizes texture: the coarse fur of the animals, the weathered surface of the rocks, and the foliage’s subtle variation are delineated with meticulous brushwork. The realistic treatment aligns with the Baroque interest in naturalism, while the balanced arrangement of figures creates depth across the hilly setting.
History & Provenance
German Baroque painter Philipp Peter Roos, active in Rome from the late 1670s until his death in 1706, produced this piece during his Italian period. It entered the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century European landscape painting.
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.
