Who painted Two Cows on a Ferry?

Two Cows on a Ferry was painted by Antonie Waterloo in 1650.

Where can I see Two Cows on a Ferry?

Two Cows on a Ferry is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two Cows on a Ferry?

Two Cows on a Ferry is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Two Cows on a Ferry

Antonie Waterloo , 1650

Two Cows on a Ferry is an ink print by the Baroque artist Antonie Waterloo. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

An etching titled Two Cows on a Ferry was produced by the Dutch artist Anthonie Waterloo around the middle of the seventeenth century, specifically dated to 1650. The work is a small-scale print that depicts a tranquil river scene framed by a fortified structure, with a modest boat transporting two bovines and a solitary figure.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a pastoral moment in which livestock are ferried across water, suggesting everyday rural activity set against a backdrop of a castle with towering turrets and a surrounding moat. The inclusion of distant walkers and a church spire adds a sense of community and landscape, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between agriculture, travel, and fortified architecture in the period.

Technique & Style

Waterloo employed the traditional etching process, incising fine lines into a copper plate before applying ink and pressing the image onto paper. The delicate hatching renders the texture of the cows’ coats, the subtle ripples on the water’s surface, and the intricate details of the castle’s towers, exemplifying the precision and tonal subtlety characteristic of mid‑1600s Dutch printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in 1650, the print belongs to a body of work that reflects Waterloo’s interest in genre scenes and topographical views. While specific ownership records are scarce, the piece has been catalogued in several collections of Dutch etchings, indicating its circulation among collectors of the period and its preservation in institutional holdings.

Context

The image aligns with a broader seventeenth‑century Dutch fascination with rural life and the interplay of human activity and landscape. By placing ordinary agricultural labor within a fortified setting, Waterloo mirrors contemporary concerns about security, commerce, and the everyday rhythms of the Dutch countryside during the Golden Age.