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Sunset Landscape with a Shepherd and his Flock
Anthony van Dyckc.1620s
Dulwich Picture Gallery
London, United Kingdom
Previously thought (until 1880) to be by Rubens, this work has more recently been attributed to Van Dyck. If so, it would have to date from early in the artist’s career, during his stay in Italy. The subject is based on an engraving after Titian and a Titianesque drawing also attributed to Van Dyck, but with equal lack of certainty, at Chatsworth.
However, recent conservation has made the attribution to Van Dyck less, rather than more, likely. The work may actually be by another, unknown, hand.
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Details
- Title: Sunset Landscape with a Shepherd and his Flock
- Creator Lifespan: 1599 - 1641
- Date: c.1620s
- Physical Dimensions: w1581 x h1076 cm
- Type: Painting
- Medium: Oil
- Work Nationality: Flemish
- Support: Canvas
- Provenance: Prince Rupert (according to Desenfans' 1802 catalogue); London, Walsh, John Bertels sale, 8 Apr. 1775, lot 25 (as Rubens); London, Noel Desenfans, 1802-1807: London, Skinner and Dyke, Desenfans sale, 18 Mar. 1802, lot 187 ('RubensÐA Landscape, Cattle and Figures'. Descriptive Catalogue no. 87: 'To the right of the picture is seen a hill covered here and there with trees, principally on the summit ... On the same side is seen, towards the bottom of the picure, a rivulet over which is a bridge, and on this side is advancing, playing on the flute, a shepherd followed by two cows and a large flock of sheep. The centre presents a rich pasture of the finest verdure, and mountains beyond, whilst on the left, and on this side, we see some young trees and an old willow lopped, shooting out fresh branches, and the root of which is discovered in parts, from apertures; the light of the sun strikes on one side of the sky, whilst the other announces rain, and presents two rainbows. There is a fine print taken from this picture, called the Two Rainbows of Rubens. It comes from the cabinet of Prince Rupert'). £110.5. Bt in. Handwritten note in copy of catalogue at The Hague, RKD: '64'. [i.e. 6 x 4]; London, Sir Francis Bourgeois, 1807-1811; Bourgeois Bequest, 1811.
- Further Information: Van Dyck departed for Italy in October 1621. In Italy Van Dyck travelled widely, but mainly worked in Genoa, where his portraiture was in great demand, as still can be seen there in the palaces. In 1622-3 he is documented in Venice and in 1623 and 1624 he visited Sicily. During this long sojourn in Italy it seems that he paid particular attention to the work of Titian, whose influence is seen in this work.
- Attributed to: van Dyck, Sir Anthony
- Acquisition Method: Bourgeois, Sir Peter Francis (Bequest, 1811)
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