The Sleeping Shepherd

About this artwork

depth 8.5 cm

Art Historical Context

"The Sleeping Shepherd," painted in 1678 by Dutch artist Jan van der Meer (II), captures a tranquil pastoral moment in oil on canvas. Measuring 65 by 83 centimeters, this modestly scaled work invites close viewing, allowing visitors to appreciate the subtle textures and soft lighting typical of late seventeenth-century Dutch painting. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, it reflects the period’s fascination with everyday rural life rendered with quiet dignity. Van der Meer’s choice of oil on canvas enabled rich layering and delicate tonal gradations, bringing warmth to the sleeping figure and surrounding landscape. The subject—a shepherd at rest—hints at themes of peace and contemplation that resonated in the Dutch Golden Age, when such scenes offered viewers a gentle escape from bustling urban existence. Though details about the artist remain sparse, the painting exemplifies the intimate, observational spirit that defines much of the Rijksmuseum’s collection from this era.