A Rocky Italian Landscape with Herdsmen and Muleteers
- Artist: Jan Both
- Date: about 1645
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Rocky Italian Landscape with Herdsmen and Muleteers" by Jan Both, painted in the Italian north around 1645. The painting depicts a serene landscape of the countryside around Rome, stretching far into the distance under a soft golden light.
Notice how the muleteers move at a leisurely pace across the mountainous landscape, their paths winding in and out of rocky outcrops down to the misty valley. The sun catches the white sleeves, collar, and stockings of two men as they stop for a rest and a chat in the shade close to us.
But while Both paints the countryside as a romantic idyll, he also makes sure that the realities of life are visible. Look at the mule behind the herdsmen - it's carrying heavy rolls on its back, and its head droops in exhaustion. This is not just a picturesque landscape, but a portrayal of real life.
Despite the idyllic scene, Both's peasants are not idealized figures. The man drinking from his hat has muscular arms, but his torso is scrawny and his muscles slack - he's a peasant with a hard life. This nuanced approach to portraiture was not universally praised - some Italian artists criticized Both for portraying 'barbaric' peasants.
See it in person
A Rocky Italian Landscape with Herdsmen and Muleteers 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.
