Jan Snellinck III (1640-1691), Attributed to - Zuidelijk landschap met herders en vee op landweg - NO RESERVE

Artist: Jan Snellinck (III) (1640–1691) (attributed to)
Oil paint on panel
Southern landscape with shepherds and livestock on a country road
Dimensions: 76 × 60 cm (panel), 101 × 86.5 cm (including frame)
Period: Baroque / Dutch Golden Age
Provenance: Substantiated attribution with RKD references #2F189402 and #167835. The current attribution to Jan Snellinck III was established by Marijke C. de Kinkelder (RKD, November 2005), who rejected a previous attribution to a follower of Adam Pijnacker. Dated circa 1655–1691.
Condition: Darkened pigments (especially in the lower right), yellowed varnish, old tear repair, and some retouchings (see UV). The panel is stable and professionally reinforced, housed in a richly profiled brown frame.

Introduction
This impressive painting, attributed to Jan Snellinck III, embodies the golden age of South Netherlandish Baroque landscape painting in the late 17th century. With a masterful sense of light, composition, and atmosphere, it demonstrates how the artist managed to weave classical Italian ideals with the refined painting tradition of Antwerp. Southern landscape with shepherds and livestock on a country road is a characteristic example of the genre that brings together nature, idealization, and human presence in harmonious unity — an artistic legacy stemming from the rich Flemish painting tradition of the Golden Age.

Description of the work
The scene unfolds in an idyllic southern landscape where a shepherd guides his herd of oxen, sheep, and a goat along a sandy path, surrounded by tall trees and gentle hills. In the background, a round tower rises among slender cypresses and a mountainous silhouette, while the sun colors the sky with a golden glow. The sunset bathes the landscape in a warm, orange hue that transitions into cool blue tones in the distance. The painter has carefully worked on the layered structure of the landscape: the foreground is rich in detail, with sparkling light falling on the backs of the livestock, while the background fades into an atmospheric blue that provides perspective and depth.

The composition demonstrates a perfect balance between nature and structure. The powerful grouping of trees on the right serves as a visual anchor, while the diagonal of the country road and the herd lead the eye toward the horizon. The tree canopies, painted in a combination of muted greens and golden browns, catch the last rays of the sun, giving the scene a sense of calm and timelessness.

Technique and color palette
The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel measuring 76 × 60 cm, a size frequently used by Snellinck III for his intimate yet detailed landscapes. The paint application consists of multiple transparent glaze layers, allowing the artist to achieve an exceptional sense of depth. The brushwork is careful and refined, especially in the depiction of the foliage and the light reflections on the water and animals.

The color palette is warm and rich, with deep earth tones, olive greens, ochre yellows, and subtle accents of white and red in the shepherd figure. The sky is composed of delicate transitions from soft blue to golden yellow and orange, demonstrating the artist's masterful control of light and atmosphere. The tonality and texture suggest an artist familiar with both the Italian luminist tradition and Dutch realistic painting techniques.

Style and art historical context
Jan Snellinck III belonged to an influential Antwerp artist family that played a prominent role in the development of Southern Netherlandish painting for generations. His grandfather, Jan Snellinck I, collaborated with Peter Paul Rubens and was known for his monumental compositions and allegorical scenes. Snellinck III continued this tradition but placed a stronger emphasis on landscape as an independent genre, influenced by the idealizing style of Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin, as well as by the naturalistic approaches of Jacob van Ruisdael and Jan Both.

This painting clearly combines these influences. The classical sense of balance and symmetry recalls the Italian school, while the meticulous treatment of vegetation and the realistic play of light are typical of Flemish art. The harmony between nature and human activity is characteristic of Antwerp Baroque, in which artists such as Lucas van Uden, Cornelis Huysmans, and Jan Frans van Bloemen (Orizzonte) also excelled.

The southern character of this work — reinforced by the mountainous background and warm lighting — suggests that Snellinck III was familiar with the topographical idealization popular in the Southern Netherlands around 1670–1690. It is possible that this work is an imaginary composition, inspired by the paintings of the so-called 'Italianising landscape painters,' in which the Arcadian ideal was central: a world of peace, shepherds, nature, and light.

Condition
The painting is in a stable and well-preserved condition, with signs of aging that enhance its authenticity and historical value. The pigments show darkening, especially in the lower areas where the shadows have deepened. The varnish layer has yellowed and slightly softens the contrasts, giving the image a warm patina. Under UV light, some retouchings are visible in the sky and parts of the foliage. An old, skillfully restored tear is visible at the top. The panel, made of multiple planks, is stable and shows no active damage. The entire work is beautifully framed in an impressive, richly crafted brown wooden robbellist (101 × 86.5 cm), which visually enhances the piece and complements the period of the painting.

Conclusion
Southern landscape with shepherds and livestock on a country road forms a splendid example of baroque landscape aesthetics, where the classical and the natural merge into a harmonious whole. The attribution to Jan Snellinck III is supported by stylistic similarities with well-known works from his circle and with the RKD entries linking his name to comparable compositions. The painting embodies the spirit of Flemish baroque, in which light, balance, and serenity are central to the artistic pursuit.

This work, with its masterful light treatment, nuanced use of color, and timeless tranquility, represents the refined poetics of 17th-century landscape painting. A particularly valuable addition to any collection that appreciates the transition between Italian classicist ideals and the naturalistic sensibility of the Dutch Golden Age.

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The work 'Southern landscape with shepherds and cattle on a country road' is set in a gilded bronze-golden wooden frame with plaster ornaments.

Total dimensions: 101x86.5
Canvas dimensions: 76x60cm

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