Shepherdess, known as ‘Monumental Conception of Humanity’

Matthijs Maris, c. 1885 - c. 1898

This large painting of a shepherdess was for a staircase and meant to be seen from below. As for all of his conceptions, Maris wished to erase the traces of the production process. Here he worked with successive layers of pastose paint which he ‘pressed’ into the canvas, creating a matte surface with a rugged texture. He also had the frame made especially for this picture.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4920
  • Dimensionsheight 203 cm x width 138.5 cm x thickness 4.2 cm, depth 9.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Discover more

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Brook in the Woods near Oosterbeek

Wintergezicht

Matthijs Maris, 1849 - 1917

Wintergezicht

Boat with a Pollard Willow

Matthijs Maris, 1863

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Study of an old woman

Matthijs Maris, c. 1856 - c. 1857

Study of an old woman

Portrait of Jacob Maris

Matthijs Maris, 1857

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Landschap

Matthijs Maris, 1849 - 1917

Landschap

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Shepherdess, known as ‘Monumental Conception of Humanity’
    • The Shepherdess, known as 'Monumental conception of humanity'

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4920

  • Description

    De schaapherderin, voorstelling genaamd 'Monumental conception of humanity'. Staande vrouw, ten voeten uit.

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Matthijs Maris

  • Dating

    c. 1885 - c. 1898

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • height 203 cm x width 138.5 cm x thickness 4.2 cm
    • depth 9.5 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    J.H. van Meurs-Cohen van Straaten Bequest

  • Acquisition

    bequest 1996

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    Donated by the artist to his friend W.J.G. van Meurs, Haarlem, 1909;{Note RMA.} on loan from the Van Meurs family, Amsterdam, to the museum, 1971 (SK-C-1486); bequeathed by Julia Hermine van Meurs, née Cohen van Straaten (?-1996), Amersfoort, to the museum, 1996

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

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