Stanislas Lépine Drawing, Portrait, Young Shepherd, Shepherd, Dog, Cattle, Landscape, 19th Century

Stanislas LÉPINE (1835–1892) Young Shepherd with His Dog Herding Cattle

A charming drawing by Stanislas Lépine depicting a young shepherd sitting on a mound or embankment, accompanied by his dog, while several head of cattle are sketched in the background.

The boy, with his legs stretched out, holds a small stick or shepherd’s crook, while his dog sits facing him. Behind the two main figures, a few head of cattle are quickly sketched in pencil with great economy of means. This contrast between the more carefully rendered foreground and the simply suggested background lends the drawing a certain charm and depth.

The scene belongs to the intimate and pastoral realm of Lépine’s graphic work. Known above all for his landscapes of Paris, the Seine, and Normandy, the artist also left behind numerous studies of figures, dogs, horses, shepherds, and animals observed from life. Several works preserved in public collections demonstrate this same attention to rural scenes and humble figures (Musée d’Orsay)

The young shepherd’s face is rendered with fine graphite hatching, particularly visible in the hair, cheeks, collar, and folds of the jacket. The line remains light and supple, without hard outlines. A few washes and highlights of watercolor enliven the drawing, especially in the blue-green hues of the pants and the pinkish-ochre tones of the ground.

The dog is rendered with great accuracy using only a few lines and shadows: its muzzle, ears, and coat are immediately recognizable. The cattle in the background, by contrast, are left as quick sketches, which accentuates the impression of a scene observed on the spot.

The sheet is distinguished by its great simplicity, a restrained palette, and a calm atmosphere. Even in this small figurative scene, we see Lépine’s taste for colored grays, soft tones, and compositions devoid of theatrical effect.

Stanislas Lépine, born in Caen in 1835 and died in Paris in 1892, was one of the leading figures in French landscape painting during the second half of the 19th century. Close to Corot, whose studio he frequented, he developed a style of painting sensitive to the effects of light and atmosphere. His work serves as an essential link between the tradition of Corot and the artistic explorations that would lead to Impressionism.

Signature: “S. Lépine” lower right.

Technique: black pencil / graphite, wash, and watercolor on paper.

Subject: a young shepherd with his dog tending cattle.

Date: second half of the 19th century, circa 1860–1885.

Dimensions of the drawing: 26 × 15 cm.

Overall dimensions: 44 × 36 cm.

Framing: original frame with glass, beige mat, and gold border.

On yellow-brown paper, a few discreet foxing spots, mainly in the lower portion. A few small superficial alterations to the paper are also visible. The drawing remains perfectly legible. The original glass-covered frame shows signs of wear and small losses.