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Photography by Dwight Primiano

The Good Shepherd

Thomas Cole, a founder of American landscape painting, was increasingly religious in his later years, imbuing his paintings with Christian iconography and expressing spiritual themes. The Good Shepherd is Cole’s visual expression of the Biblical verse from Psalms 23, “The Lord is my shepherd.” A young shepherd leads a stray sheep “beside still waters” toward the flock bathed in warm sunlight. The lushness of the landscape conveys the idea that the Good Shepherd—the Lord—will provide for and protect his people

ArtistaThomas Cole(1801-1848)
Fecha1848
MedioOil on canvas
Dimensiones44 3/4 x 60 7/8 x 5 1/2 in.
Firmadol.l.: T. Cole / 1848
Marca(s)verso, u.r., on backing board: [Michael N. Altman & Co. label] verso, u.r., on backing board: [Wadsworth Atheneum exhibition label] verso, u.r., on backing board: [Michael Altman Fine Art & Advisory Services label] verso, u.r., on stretcher: [Michael N. Altman & Co. label] verso, u.c., on stretcher: [William S. Conely: Carver and Gilder label]
Línea de créditoCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2007.10
ClasificaciónPainting
ProcedenciaIsabella Williamson Lee (b. 1800), New York, NY, 1848; by descent until 1983; to (Sotheby's, New York, NY), December 12, 1983; purchased by Gloria and Richard Manney, New York, NY; to (Sotheby's, New York, NY), May 27, 1993; purchased by Private Collection, New Fairfield, CT; Private Collection; (Michael Altman Fine Art & Advisory Services, New York, NY), 2007; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2007
En exhibición
The Good Shepherd44.8 × 60.9 in.Standard/Movie Poster40 × 27 in.

This artwork's face covers about 2.5× the area of a standard movie poster.Drawn to the same scale.