Pastoral landscape with shepherds.

Drawing, pen and brown ink, brown and grey wash, 33 x 41 cm, laid paper, signed in the lower right "Loutherbourg" (some vague stains, paper sl. toned).

Under passe-partout and gilt frame (not studied outside frame).

A charming forest landscape with a young shepherdess and a shepherd engaged in conversation. Loutherbourg was a French-born British painter who became known for his large naval works, his elaborate set designs for London theatres. Despite these theatre projects, Loutherbourg still found time for painting. He was made a member of the Royal Academy in 1781. The present drawing is datable in his early period, before his settlement in London, when he painted for a market with a taste for pastoral scenes.