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Et in Arcadia ego (The Arcadian Shepherds)
Nicolas Poussin · Baroque & Dutch Golden Age
- Artist
- Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665)
- Date
- c. 1637–1638
- Dimensions
- 85 x 121 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
This painting shows three shepherds and a woman in a calm, idyllic landscape gathered around a stone tomb. One of the shepherds kneels and traces with his finger the Latin inscription carved on it: 'Et in Arcadia ego'.
A closer look
Arcadia was the legendary land of shepherds, a place of happiness and simple pleasures. The inscription means 'Even in Arcadia, I am here', spoken by Death itself: even in paradise, death is present. The shepherds react thoughtfully: one points to the words, another turns questioningly to the woman, who stands calm and dignified like a classical statue and rests her hand on his shoulder, as if offering wisdom and acceptance. The balanced composition, the clear colours and the restrained emotions make it a perfect example of French classicism.
History of the painting
Louis XIV bought the painting in 1685 for the royal collection, and it hung at Versailles before entering the Louvre. Its puzzling inscription, ‘Et in Arcadia ego’, has been debated ever since; the composition became so famous that it was copied, engraved and quoted by artists and writers for centuries.