Artwork
Sheperdess reading
Sheperdess reading is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Simon van der Does. It dates from 1706 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Simon van der Does’ oil on canvas, dated 1706, portrays a quiet pastoral moment that now belongs to the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The composition centers on a young shepherdess seated on a stone amid a verdant landscape, absorbed in a book while a small flock grazes nearby. The scene is framed by distant hills and a softly clouded sky, conveying a calm, reflective mood.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a solitary figure engaged in reading, an uncommon activity for a shepherdess in early‑18th‑century genre painting. By juxtaposing literacy with pastoral labor, the artist suggests a harmonious balance between intellectual pursuits and the natural world, inviting viewers to contemplate the quiet dignity of rural life.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting displays a delicate handling of light that illuminates the shepherdess’s red jacket and blue skirt, while the surrounding foliage is rendered with loose, yet precise brushwork. The muted palette and subtle modeling of forms reflect the Dutch Baroque sensibility for realism combined with an idealized pastoral charm.
History & Provenance
Created in 1706, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its early‑20th‑century acquisitions of Dutch genre works. Documentation traces its ownership through several private collections before its transfer to the national museum, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s representation of Dutch pastoral painting.
Context
Van der Does worked within a tradition of Dutch genre painters who often depicted everyday scenes infused with moral undertones. The inclusion of a reading shepherdess aligns with contemporary interests in education and virtue, reflecting broader Enlightenment ideas that valued literacy across social strata.
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