Juli: schapen scheren (leeuw) 1575 - 1613

"Juli: schapen scheren (leeuw)" (July: Shearing Sheep [Lion]), a 16th-century etching by Italian artist Antonio Tempesta, depicts a pastoral scene set amidst a lush landscape. The print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, illustrates a month of the year with a depiction of a shepherd shearing sheep in a wooded grove. The scene is framed by a building on the left and a house on the right, and a lion in the sky alludes to the constellation Leo, which is prominent in the July sky. Tempera's skillful use of shading and detail creates a realistic and evocative portrayal of rural life. This print is a notable example of his work in the genre of "Months of the Year", and his meticulous depiction of the natural world and human activity.