A Farm with a Dead Tree
- Artist: Adriaen van de Velde
- Date: 1658
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A Farm with a Dead Tree" by Adriaen van de Velde. Painted when he was just 22 years old, this quiet picture shows remarkable maturity for one so young. The conversation between the milkmaid and the man with the basket seems amicable, with nothing to disturb the rhythmic swish of the milk into the pail.
Notice how the pig hauls itself up on its haunches, looking as if it will roll over and snooze again in the spring sunshine. The skeleton of the dead oak tree stands out starkly against the sky, but the clouds are soft and fluffy, moving slowly. Van de Velde has covered the lower branches with shaggy ivy to soften the harsh outline.
The brilliant blue of the milkmaid's skirt enlivens the mellow browns, creams, and greys of the foreground and harmonises with the blue of the sky. The three distinct groups of animals and figures are bound together by the wide pool of warm sunlight. This painting is a great example of van de Velde's work from this period, showcasing his ability to capture everyday scenes in a peaceful and serene way.
It's worth noting that at the time of its creation, van de Velde was influenced by animal painters like Paulus Potter, whose images of statuesque cattle were popular in Holland.
See it in person
A Farm with a Dead Tree hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
