Cattle Piece 1672 - 1727

Michiel Carree's "Cattle Piece," a landscape painting dating from 1672-1727, depicts a peaceful rural scene. The painting, which now resides in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, shows a herd of sheep and goats grazing in a lush meadow under a cloudy sky, with a large tree providing shade in the foreground. This pastoral composition showcases Carree's mastery of depicting the natural world with an emphasis on realistic details, such as the textures of the sheep's fleece and the gnarled bark of the tree. The painting is a fine example of the Dutch Golden Age style.