#08210 Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803-1902)

Here we see a pastoral scene dominated by a herd of cattle grazing near a body of water. The composition is structured around a central group of animals clustered close to the foreground, while others are dispersed across the landscape, receding into the distance. A sense of quietude and tranquility pervades the image; the cows appear relaxed and undisturbed in their environment.
The artist’s use of light contributes significantly to this atmosphere. The sky is overcast, diffusing the light evenly across the scene, softening shadows and creating a muted palette. This subdued lighting emphasizes the earthy tones of the landscape – the greens of the grass, the browns and blacks of the cattle, and the reflections in the water.
The placement of the animals near the water’s edge suggests an essential connection between life and sustenance. The water acts as both a visual boundary and a symbolic element, representing nourishment and renewal. The varying postures of the cows – some standing, others lying down – convey a sense of natural rhythm and cyclical existence.
There is a deliberate lack of human presence in this depiction. This absence reinforces the focus on the animals and their relationship with nature, suggesting an idealized view of rural life, one untouched by industrialization or societal complexities. The artist seems to be presenting a moment of simple harmony between creatures and their environment, evoking feelings of peace and nostalgia for a more agrarian past.

The composition’s horizontal format further emphasizes this sense of expansiveness and tranquility, drawing the viewers eye across the landscape and into the distance.