KAREL DUJARDIN (1626-1678)

SHEPERDS IN THE ROMAN CAMPAGNA
Oil on canvas laid on panel
28.5 x 32.7 cm

PROVENANCE:
Private collection, Switzerland, since the 1960s
 
 
 
 
The present scene is a wonderful example of Dujardin's Roman-period paintings, characterised by their remarkable crispness, vibrant warmth of colour and subtle inclusion of Roman monuments to situate the landscape approximately. In this case, the edifice to the middle ground of the painting is likely derived from one of the many sepulchrii located outside Rome and around the Campagna. Such architectural focal points can be found in many of Dujardin's paintings of shepherds in Italianate landscapes, and are reminders of his prolific practise as a draughtsman and regular sketching trips around Rome and its environs.