Initially, the painting was named Cows in the meadow. It was acquired in 1860 by Nikolay Borisovich Yusupov Junior from artist Vincent Van Gogh. Nikolay Borisovich Yusupov Junior (1827-1891) was the last representative of the dynasty of male lineage. The musician, collector, philanthropist, patron, he was a recognized and large concert violinist. Symphonic music, his compositions enjoyed success. Felix Yusupov noted: ‘My father ardently loved the art and throughout his life he patronized artists’. This led to a collection of autographs, letters, lithography and photographs with autographs of persons of literature and art of the mid 19th century. During his travels across Europe Yusupov used to buy the works of contemporary authors and small pictures of old Dutch and Flemish masters. Nikolay Borisovich regularly communicated with traders of the pictures who sent the commodity to Saint Petersburg. The Yusupovs’ collection was one of the largest in Russia of that time, however, as distinct to others (Kushelev-Bezborodko, Tretyakov, Bogolyubov) it was never opened for public attendance.
Following the revolution, all palaces and collections were nationalized. In the palace on Moyka River a museum was opened in 1919. In 1925 the collection was disbanded: out of 1070 works listed as per checklist, 614 pictures were admitted by the State Museum Сollection. From here some of them were handed over to the Hermitage and the Russian Museum as well as to the museums across the entire country. Some pictures were sold out both domestically and internationally; the fate of many is still unknown.
The author of the picture, Constant Troyon, descendent from a family of porcelain artists, followed a family tradition. The acquaintance with artists of Barbizon school leads him to painting on open air and observation of reality. Portraying the nature, Troyon escapes dramatic effects, conveyance of strong feelings and moods. The trip to Holland, acquaintance with painting of animalistic genre determined the line of his creativity and brought him fame. The works of Troyon are exhibited in the largest museums of the world. One more signature picture Evening. Flock of sheep is kept with the collection of the Radishchev Museum.
Following the revolution, all palaces and collections were nationalized. In the palace on Moyka River a museum was opened in 1919. In 1925 the collection was disbanded: out of 1070 works listed as per checklist, 614 pictures were admitted by the State Museum Сollection. From here some of them were handed over to the Hermitage and the Russian Museum as well as to the museums across the entire country. Some pictures were sold out both domestically and internationally; the fate of many is still unknown.
The author of the picture, Constant Troyon, descendent from a family of porcelain artists, followed a family tradition. The acquaintance with artists of Barbizon school leads him to painting on open air and observation of reality. Portraying the nature, Troyon escapes dramatic effects, conveyance of strong feelings and moods. The trip to Holland, acquaintance with painting of animalistic genre determined the line of his creativity and brought him fame. The works of Troyon are exhibited in the largest museums of the world. One more signature picture Evening. Flock of sheep is kept with the collection of the Radishchev Museum.
