Cattle at the Water’s Edge
Félix Planquette (French, 1873–1964)
Oil on canvas, 29 x 39 in.
Framed: 35 x 45 in.
Signed lower right
In this serene pastoral scene, a young shepherdess stands at the riverbank as her cattle step into the still water. One cow turns its head to meet the viewer’s gaze, creating a quiet moment of connection. The calm surface of the stream reflects the warm hues of sky and landscape, suggesting the golden light of dawn or dusk.
Félix Planquette, known for his lyrical depictions of rural France, was awarded the prestigious Rosa Bonheur Prize in 1912 and regularly exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français. Cattle at the Water’s Edge exemplifies his mastery of light and composition, offering a poetic meditation on the harmony between land, animal, and human presence. Presented in an ornate giltwood frame, the work radiates peaceful beauty.
