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About This Work
This print depicts a dense forest scene dominated by a thick, diagonal tree trunk that has collapsed against a rocky ledge. A seated shepherd with a basket rests in the foreground near a small waterfall, while several goats graze among the roots and boulders. In the hazy distance, a fortified manor or castle is visible through a clearing in the trees.
Produced by artists at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, this work reflects the era's fascination with the 'Book of Nature.' The meticulous detail of the forest and its decay aligns with the Rudolfine interest in natural philosophy and the study of the physical world as a reflection of divine order.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Cum Priuil: Sac: Cæs May.tis Roelant Sauery Inuentor Egidius Sadeler ex: Marco Sadeler excudit.
Translation
With the privilege of His Sacred Imperial Majesty Roelant Savery inventor Egidius Sadeler publisher Marco Sadeler printed it.
Connected Texts
Roelant Savery
The artist who designed the original composition and served as a court painter to Rudolf II, specializing in rugged landscapes and the study of nature.
Aegidius Sadeler
The Imperial engraver for Rudolf II, responsible for disseminating the distinctive aesthetic and philosophical themes of the Prague court.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 225 mm x width 284 mm
landscape
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.