Petite 18th Century Pastoral Oil on Panel Initialed VS For Von der Schlichten - 12½" x 16½"

An elegant petite oil on wood panel, this pastoral scene is finely rendered and richly colored, initialed VS on the foreground stone and associated with Johann Franz von der Schlichten (1687–1755). A herdsman in a brimmed hat waters cattle and sheep at a stone trough before a classical arched ruin, with slender trees, distant mountains, and birds in flight beneath a soft evening sky. The palette shifts from warm umbers and copper to cool greens and blues, with a touch that is consistently fine and detailed. Presented in a simple mitered hardwood frame with a mellow brown tone, the painting is in very good condition, showing only light craquelure and a gently timeworn surface appropriate to its age.

 Von der Schlichten (1687–1755) was a German painter celebrated for refined landscapes and pastoral scenes, earning recognition at princely courts in Würzburg. Works of this type were prized across the German states in the 18th century, blending Dutch Italianate models with a calm Arcadian order. Painted on panel, the meticulous detail in animals, foliage, and masonry reflects the tradition of cabinet pictures. The classical ruin and watering trough evoke an idealized countryside rooted in Enlightenment taste, where nature, farming, and antiquity coexist in harmony.

This intimate picture lends itself to a library, study, or entry where its quiet narrative invites close viewing. Hang it above a console or writing desk, pair it with leather-bound books and burnished brass for a warm, traditional vignette, or group it with other small landscapes to create a focused salon wall. Its restrained scale and glowing earth tones suit paneled rooms, country houses, and tailored city interiors alike, adding a thoughtful pastoral note without overwhelming the space.