Who painted Shephardess with pigeons?

Shephardess with pigeons was painted by Antoine Pesne in 1728.

Where can I see Shephardess with pigeons?

Shephardess with pigeons is held by Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister.

What movement is Shephardess with pigeons?

Shephardess with pigeons is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Shephardess with pigeons

Antoine Pesne , 1728

Shephardess with pigeons is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Antoine Pesne. It dates from 1728 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister.

About this work

Overview

Antoine Pesne’s 1728 oil painting, titled *Shephardess with Pigeons*, presents a young woman in a red‑and‑white dress and a flower‑tipped straw hat. She cradles a pigeon in her right hand while a second bird rests in a basket at her feet, creating a quiet, intimate scene that reflects pastoral life.

Subject & Meaning

The figure’s simple attire and the presence of domesticated pigeons suggest a shepherdess or rural caretaker, embodying themes of modest labor and the gentle bond between humans and birds. The composition emphasizes calmness and attentiveness, inviting viewers to consider the everyday dignity of agrarian work in the early eighteenth century.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the work showcases Pesne’s careful rendering of textures: the soft folds of the dress, the straw hat’s woven quality, and the delicate plumage of the pigeons. Subtle chiaroscuro models the forms, while a restrained palette of reds, whites, and earthy tones underscores the naturalistic yet refined aesthetic typical of Pesne’s court‑influenced style.

History & Provenance

Painted in 1728, the canvas entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on 18th‑century European painting, and the work has been documented in the gallery’s catalogues as a representative example of Pesne’s output during his Berlin period.