Artist: Attributed to Adriaen van der Werff
Title: Shepherd and Shepherdess in Love
Medium: Oil on Oak Panel
Dimensions: 15.55 x 12.80 in
Condition Report: Good overall condition
Provenance: Label "Boydell Gallery," Liverpool; Private Collection, Milan

This exquisite oil painting, attributed to the renowned Dutch artist Adriaen van der Werff, presents a tender pastoral scene, a theme frequently explored in the artist's oeuvre. Titled Shepherd and Shepherdess in Love, the work captures a serene and intimate moment between a young shepherd and shepherdess, set against a lush, verdant backdrop. Van der Werff's choice of a vertical composition enhances the sense of closeness between the figures, as the frame tightly envelops the couple, drawing the viewer’s focus to their shared gaze.

In the foreground, the shepherd, seated and holding a flute, pauses mid-performance to smile lovingly at the shepherdess, who reclines against his leg, her expression contemplative as she looks into his eyes. The scene is bathed in soft, dappled light, with the couple resting in the cool shade on a sunny day. The background is rich with intricate details, where heavy green foliage intermingles with architectural elements, creating a harmonious blend of nature and structure.

About the Artist:

Adriaen van der Werff (1659-1722) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, mezzotint engraver, and architect. Born in Rotterdam, he initially studied under Cornelis Pecolet and later with Eglon van der Neer. Van der Werff established himself as a painter of historical subjects by the age of seventeen. His talent soon garnered the attention of notable patrons, including the Elector Palatine, who commissioned works such as The Judgment of Solomon and Van der Werff's own portrait. The artist enjoyed significant success at the Elector's court in Düsseldorf, where he was granted a pension and was ennobled in 1703.