Cows and Sheep in a Wood

In this small snapshot of country life by Dutch genre painter Adriaen van de Velde (1636–72), a calm atmosphere is balanced with a sense of imminent movement. The huddle of sheep seem ready to rise, the cow on the path contemplates the refreshing stream and an adventurous goat clambers the rocks on the left-hand side. Beyond the animals, two figures rest on the path, deep in conversation under the shadow of the trees. A large cow takes centre stage, its body reflected in the stream below. The animal is carefully rendered, its mottled hide softly blended.  

Tranquil scenes set in idyllic countryside were popular with Dutch art collectors. Following years of conflict in a war fighting for independence from Spanish rule, the newly unified Netherlands turned to subjects that celebrated stability, peace and prosperity. Livestock, especially cattle, represented Dutch resilience, and the dairy cow became an emblem for the growing wealth being generated from farming. A master of such scenes, Van de Velde infused his Dutch paintings with an Italian influence, adding in the warm light of the Roman countryside. While the settings are imaginary, the figures and animals are closely observed. Van de Velde made numerous studies and sketches of animals from life, and was often called upon to add figures to other artists’ works. A member of an artistic family, his father Willem van de Velde (1610/11–93) and brother, Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633–1707), specialised in maritime paintings of boats and shipping, equally as symbolic of Dutch national pride as the humble cow.