Constant Troyon, the man who painted this picture, delighted in painting groups of animals coming toward us. No matter where we stand, so long as we can see them, they are coming to meet us. It makes us feel as if we must step aside and let them pass, they are so real.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Who goes after the cows and sheep? Where will they find them? Where is the man in the picture? Why do you suppose he is walking slowly? What does the dog think he must do? What is he trying to persuade that dark cow not to do? What does the cow which is just leaving the water seem to want to do? Why does the dog look so worried? Where was this picture painted? Where have you seen a road that looks like this? What will probably happen when these cows and sheep reach home? Of what use is the dog? Why do most farmers have a dog? How can a dog help his master in the city? In what direction are the cows and sheep going? What makes you think so?
The story of the artist. When Constant Troyon was a little boy he used to love to go to visit his father at the big factory where all kinds of china and pottery were made. He liked to watch the men decorate the china, and as soon as he was old enough he went into the factory and learned how to do it himself. This was the way he first learned how to draw.
He was not long content with china painting, however, and soon began painting large pictures of places he cared about near home. He would take his paints and search out just the place he liked to paint; then he would stay there all day long, as happy as could be.
At first he painted just because he liked to, and did not try to paint pictures to sell or to please others, for he earned all the money he needed in the porcelain factory. After a while his friends persuaded him to exhibit his paintings so that all the people could see them, and when he did so he was amazed to find that every one admired them, and that he had become very popular.
Of a powerful frame, he could be seen tramping about in all kinds of weather. He made friends wherever he went, for he was always good-natured and kind-hearted. People usually speak of him as a painter of cattle, but he painted quite as many pictures of sheep and dogs.
Questions about the artist. Who painted this picture? What did he like to paint best? Where did Constant Troyon learn to draw? What was made at his father's factory? What did Troyon do when he was old enough? Where did he paint his large pictures? Why did he paint? How did people like his pictures? How did they like him? What other animals did he like to paint besides cattle?