A Herdsman with Seven Cows by a River
- Artist: Aelbert Cuyp
- Date: probably about 1750-1800
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "A Herdsman with Seven Cows by a River" painted in the Dutch north. Aelbert Cuyp was known for his beautiful landscapes, and at first glance, this painting seems like one of them. Look at that vast sky and the distant windmill - it's exactly what you'd expect from a Cuyp landscape. But take a closer look: the details aren't quite as precise as you'd find in a typical Cuyp piece.
The figure in the foreground is an interesting one - he's dressed in a scarlet jacket, which would have added a nice pop of colour to the painting if it weren't for the discoloured varnish. He's just standing there with his stick, looking out over the plain. And then you've got these seven cows grazing away - they're incredibly realistic, with one keeping watch while the others lie down.
It's actually been suggested that this might not be a genuine Cuyp painting at all, but rather an imitation of his style by another artist, Jacob van Strij. Regardless of who painted it, it's still a lovely piece to look at and imagine what it would have been like in its prime.
See it in person
A Herdsman with Seven Cows by a River hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
