Ravine with a Stream, a Shepherd and His Herd

Roos’s landscape presents a climbing rocky terrain with a wide vista of a rock arch and a waterfall. The sheep and goats freely move along the rocks - in the foreground, a shepherd is taking a rest, accompanied by a dog. It is divided by the rocky cliffs, which provide the rhythm of the alternating lit and overshadowed areas in the painting. The very theme of a rugged rocky terrain with a rock was adopted by Roos from the work of Salvatore Rosa. Painting most probably dates from the final period of Roos’s lifetime, the late 1690s. The painting is executed in thick pasty layers, its brushwork is highly relaxed. To enhance the dramatic character of the painting, the artist used the effects of light and monochrome coloration.