Shepherds 1765 - 1775

Ralph Wood the Younger's "Shepherds" is a charming ceramic sculpture created in the 1760s. The piece depicts a shepherd and shepherdess seated on a rocky outcropping, surrounded by sheep and a goat. The shepherd plays a flute while the shepherdess holds a crook, showcasing the simple life of rural England. Wood's attention to detail and naturalistic depiction of the figures and animals captures the essence of 18th-century English pastoral life. This Staffordshire figure group is a great example of the English tradition of producing decorative pottery, and it is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.