Landscape with a Bull, Sheep and Goats 1670 - 1706

Philipp Peter Roos painted this oil on canvas, "Landscape with a Bull, Sheep and Goats," likely in Italy, where he spent much of his career. Roos specialized in animal paintings, catering to a market in Northern Europe keen on Italian landscapes. The painting presents an idealized view of the countryside, with livestock peacefully coexisting amidst classical ruins. But beyond this picturesque scene, it reveals much about the social and economic values of the time. The prominence given to livestock reflects the agricultural basis of the economy and the importance of animal husbandry. At the same time, the ruined building in the background suggests a nostalgia for a bygone era. To fully understand Roos' work, we can investigate the art market of his time, the patronage system, and the cultural fascination with Italy among Northern European elites. Through these avenues of research, we recognize that art is never created in a vacuum.