Herdsmen with their cattle

Paulus Potter (1625 - 1654). Herdsmen with their cattle, 1651 Paulus Potter, whose specialty was animals, portrayed cows, goats and sheep in precise and accurate detail. Here he has placed them against a hilly background. This was unusual for Potter, who generally painted flat Dutch landscapes. The hill on the left has a special function within the composition. Together with the tree on the right, it creates the effect of stage wings, adding depth to the composition. Purchased in 1808, from the collection of G. van der Pot van Groeneveld (Rotterdam).