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Shepherdess Seated on a Rock

1856
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 802
Millet had almost finished a painting of the same subject in 1856 (Cincinnati Art Museum), when the young American artist Edward Wheelwright admired it in his studio and asked to buy it. As that work was promised to a patron, Millet agreed to make a replica. Wheelwright recalled that Millet took the second version to the same state of completion as the original, and then "worked on the two pictures alternatively," advancing on one, then turning to the other, and "in this way making both . . . better than either would have been without the rivalry." Wheelwright selected the one now in Cincinnati.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Shepherdess Seated on a Rock
  • Artist: Jean-François Millet (French, Gruchy 1814–1875 Barbizon)
  • Date: 1856
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 14 1/8 x 11 1/8 in. (35.9 x 28.3 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Douglas Dillon, 1983
  • Object Number: 1983.446
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

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A Young Man Seated, Bent over a Reclining Figure, Jean-François Millet French, Red chalk with stumping on laid paper
A Young Man Seated, Bent over a Reclining Figure
Jean-François Millet
ca. 1845–50
Shepherd and His Flock, Jean-François Millet French, Pastel on papier bleuté
Shepherd and His Flock
Jean-François Millet
late 19th century
Digger, Jean-François Millet French, Woodcut on laid paper; second (final) state; posthumous edition
Digger
Jean-François Millet
1863
Proof from a block of sketches, Jean-François Millet French, Woodcut on china paper, laid down on card; second (final) state; posthumous impression
Proof from a block of sketches
Jean-François Millet
1834–75
Digger, Jean-François Millet French, Woodcut in brown ink on laid paper; second (final) state; posthumous impression
Digger
Jean-François Millet
1863

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