Artwork
Landschaft mit Vieh und Hirt
Landschaft mit Vieh und Hirt is an unspecified painting by the Barbizon school artist Philipp Peter Roos. It dates from 1691 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Philipp Peter Roos, a German painter active in the late 17th century, produced the work *Landschaft mit Vieh und Hirt* in 1691. Executed during his Roman period, the canvas presents a pastoral scene that combines figures, animals, and a natural setting. The painting is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a shepherd, modestly dressed, who guides his flock to a watercourse. A cow and a goat appear in the distance, reinforcing the theme of rural livelihood. The tranquil interaction between human, animal, and landscape suggests an idealized view of agrarian life, emphasizing harmony with nature.
Technique & Style
Roos employs chiaroscuro to model forms and create spatial depth, contrasting illuminated foreground elements with darker background tones. The handling of light gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence, while the muted palette and softened edges align the work with the naturalistic tendencies later associated with the Barbizon school.
History & Provenance
Created while Roos was based in and around Rome between 1677 and his death in 1706, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek's holdings at an unspecified date. Its presence in the museum links the artist’s Roman period to the broader German Baroque tradition represented in the collection.
Context
Although Roos is primarily known for his animal studies, this piece reflects the cross‑cultural exchange between German and Italian artistic circles in the late 1600s. The work’s pastoral subject aligns with contemporary interest in bucolic themes, which would later be revisited by 19th‑century landscape painters.
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.
