Lot 2149 Dα

In the late 1830s, Verboeckhoven began to populate his dramatic natural landscapes with people and animals. A typical example is the painting "Flock of Sheep Surprised by a Thunderstorm", oil on canvas, 207 x 270 cm, created in 1839 and now owned by the Royal Museums in Brussels (inv. no. 242, www.opac-fabritius.be). It is one of the Flemish animal painter's major works and was purchased for the museum immediately after it was created. The present painting is a smaller version.

The flock of sheep crowds around the shepherd at the front right of the image beside a stone cross with an inscription, shying away from the approaching storm. The artist renders the flock of sheep, the plants, the wooden walkway and the rock formations in the foreground in fascinating detail. Verboeckhoven's impression of the animals is characterised by the realism with which he depicts their wooly coats. The landscape appears to be in a state of movement. It is raining heavily from the towering grey clouds and the thunderstorm is in full swing. Brightly lit elements in the foreground alternate with lighter and darker shadows. Just one third of the composition is occupied by the detailed foreground, which allows the artist to give particular attention to the spectacular cloudy sky. Verboeckhoven repeated the composition several times between 1839, 1847 and 1868 in smaller formats in oil on canvas and on panel.