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Like many of Adriaen van de Velde’s paintings, this is a quiet picture. The conversation between the milkmaid and the man with the basket seems amicable, with nothing to disturb the rhythmic swish of the milk into the pail. A pig hauls itself up on its haunches, looking as if it will roll over and snooze again in the spring sunshine. The skeleton of the dead oak tree stands out starkly against the sky, but the clouds are soft and fluffy, moving slowly.

Van de Velde painted the picture when he was only 22 years old and it shows remarkable maturity. The three distinct groups of animals and figures, each a satisfying vignette on its own, are bound together by the wide, warm pool of sunlight. The brilliant blue of the milkmaid’s skirt enlivens the mellow browns, creams and greys of the foreground and harmonises with the blue of the sky.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Farm with a Dead Tree

Date

1658

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 54.2 x W 62.5 cm

Accession number

NG867

Acquisition method

Bought, 1871

Work type

Painting

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.

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Artist or maker

Adriaen van de Velde

1636–1672

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