Shepherdess and her Flock by Jean-Francois Millet, 1864. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jean-Francois Millet was a French painter noted for his scenes of peasant farmers. This painting was put on display at the Paris Salon in 1864 and was highly commended. The praying girl with a flock of sheep in this painting created an atmosphere of tranquility and sadness. Millet once lived in the countryside and he wanted to express his nostalgia for his childhood. Théophile Gautier, well known critic and artist, once said that this was the most perfect painting he had ever seen.