“Pastoral Landscape,” created by Claude Lorrain around 1636, is an oil painting on copper. The artwork is a remarkable example of Classicism within the pastoral genre and is part of the collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) in Sydney, Australia.
The artwork depicts an idyllic rural scene characterized by serene natural beauty and harmonious cohabitation of man and nature. It features a tranquil landscape where livestock graze peacefully by a riverbank amidst lush greenery. In the foreground, a shepherd, dressed in rustic attire, is seen reclining under the shade of large, ancient trees, playing a flute. The background reveals a quaint, rustic building with a cylindrical tower, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a distant town bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. The composition reflects Claude Lorrain’s meticulous attention to light and atmospheric effects, capturing the peaceful essence of a pastoral life that evokes both beauty and tranquility.
