Old painting of a landscape with shepherds, oil on canvas, 17th century.

Oil on canvas. The large scene, set in a hilly countryside with a village and ruins in the background to the left, is entirely occupied by a compact group of many lively figures: the shepherd's family is seated in the centre, watching their companion who holds the swaddled baby in her arms; all around, the animals, from the faithful sheepdog to the herd animals, sheep, goats, and cows, are also at rest. The great naturalism of the animal figures stands out, which in its pictorial style refers to the works of the school of Philipp Peter Roos, known as Rosa da Tivoli (1657-1706), the German painter considered one of the best animal painters active in Italy in the 17th century, characterised by a particular ability to evoke the fleece and expressions of the animals. The work, restored and re-canvas, is presented in a gilded frame of the style.