Lost: Souvenir of Auvergne - August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck

A dramatic 1873 oil painting by August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck depicting a flock of sheep and a dog caught in a severe winter blizzard.

August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck, a Danish painter who spent much of his career in France, produced this work during the 1870s. It depicts a flock of sheep huddled together against a severe snowstorm in the Auvergne region. The composition focuses on the physical struggle of the animals as they face the elements. A sheepdog stands to the left, barking or howling, while the sheep press against one another for warmth and protection. In the background, a faint, snow-covered cross serves as a marker of the desolate environment.

Schenck was known for his ability to capture the textures of animal wool and the atmospheric conditions of harsh weather. The painting uses a monochromatic palette to convey the biting cold and the lack of visibility during a blizzard. The brushwork is precise, allowing for the rendering of individual tufts of wool matted by snow and ice. The scene is devoid of human presence, placing the entire focus on the vulnerability of the livestock in a hostile environment. This work was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1873 and gained significant attention for its emotive quality and technical execution. It remains a representative example of nineteenth-century animalier painting, where the artist sought to evoke sympathy for the subjects through realistic observation and dramatic staging. The absence of colour serves to heighten the sense of isolation and the severity of the winter conditions, drawing the viewer into the immediate physical reality of the scene.