In The Netherlands during the course of the first half of the 17th century, the depiction of shepherds and shepherdesses in paintings was very popular. The pastoral drama Granida (1605) by Pieter Cornelisz Hooft and Aminta (1573) by Torquato Tasso played an important role in the dissemination of this theme in the artistic milieu. Pastoral Scene reflects Rubens's interest in the pastoral works of Classical Antiquity, such as Theocritus's poems, where idyllic moods and images predominate. In the last decade of his life, Rubens left his diplomatic career and devoted himself wholly to art. His works from this period frequently included pastoral themes and idyllic landscapes. The Hermitage canvas is a reduced-size replica of the painting Shepherd and Shepherdess in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich.
Credit: Formerly in the collection of Catherine the Great