Tivoli waterfalls with a herd

This painter was the fifth generation in a family of artists; he began his training under his father, but at age 20 he moved to Rome on a scholarship and in 1684 settled in a house near Tivoli. There he specialized in naturalistic landscapes, almost always featuring flocks of sheep and goats.

In this painting, the focal point is the great waterfall on the Aniene River, which flows down from the Simbruini Mountains near Tivoli to the Roman countryside, where it empties into the Tiber; it is the central element of the composition. This sunset landscape was painted with loose brushstrokes and powerful chiaroscuro effects; the rocks and vegetation are clearly defined and realistic. In the foreground, he painted a reclining shepherd watching over his flock while contemplating this magnificent spectacle of nature.