The Good Shepherd
Oil painting on canvas • In the manner of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, 1617–1682), likely by a follower or workshop hand of the period.
Style & Movement
Baroque / Spanish School
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, executed using traditional academic glazing and chiaroscuro techniques with soft blending characteristic of 17th-century Spanish or Italian baroque religious painting.
Creation Period
Late 17th to 18th century
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 24 x 20 inches, vertical rectangular format
Subject Description
The painting depicts the young Saint John the Baptist as a child seated outdoors with a sheep, holding a rudimentary wooden staff. A subtle halo surrounds his head, signifying his sanctity. The background features classical architectural ruins on the left and a pastoral landscape with grazing sheep in the distance under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky. The iconography symbolizes Christ as the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The surface shows minor craquelure consistent with age, stable paint layers, and some signs of historical cleaning or light varnish yellowing.
Estimated Market Value
3000 to 5000 USD
Auction Estimate
2000 to 4000 USD
Provenance History
European private collection, likely acquired through the art trade in the 19th or 20th century. Housed in an antique-style carved and gilded composite frame.
Art Historical Significance
The composition directly references Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's famous treatments of the young Christ and Saint John the Baptist with the lamb, which were immensely popular subjects in Spanish Baroque art and widely replicated by followers and later academic copyists.
Notable Features
Housed in an ornate, heavily carved giltwood frame with classical foliate and scroll motifs that complement the period aesthetic of the painting.
Condition Issues
Minor surface dirt, mild yellowing of the older varnish layer, and potential historical overpaint in localized background areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning by a professional conservator, eventual removal of oxidized varnish if deemed necessary, and maintenance in stable climate-controlled conditions with UV-filtering glass.