search results

Previous Showing result 6 of 27 Next

Close

Sir Edwin Landseer RA, A horned cow or bull approaching two frogs

A horned cow or bull approaching two frogs, ca.1810-12

Sir Edwin Landseer RA (1802 - 1873)

RA Collection: Art

Sir Edwin Landseer's lifelong passion for depicting animals is evident even in his earliest drawings. He drew the animals he saw around him, taking a particular interest in farms. The Royal Academy's collection of early Landseer drawings includes a menagerie of cattle, pigs and horses, in common with another group of his early studies in the Victoria & Albert Museum.

According to the artist's father, the fields which then existed near the Finchley Road were 'Edwin's first studio'. He continued ' I then lived in Foley Street and nearly all the way between Marylebone and Hampstead was open fields. It was a favourite walk with my boys; and one day when I had accompanied them, Edwin stopped by this stile to admire some sheep and cows which were quietly grazing. At his request I lifted him over and finding a scrap of paper and a pencil in my pocket I made him sketch a cow. He was very young indeed then - not more than six or seven years old.'

In August 1810 the artist and diarist Joseph Farington recorded that he had received a visit from John Landseer (Edwin's father) who 'shewed some sketches of Cattle made by His Son, a Child of 7 years old, remarkably well done for his age'.

All objects in this group

Object details

Title
A horned cow or bull approaching two frogs
Artist/designer
Sir Edwin Landseer RA (1802 - 1873)
Date
ca.1810-12
Object type
Drawing
Medium
Pencil on cream wove paper
Dimensions

106 mm x 118 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
02/72
Acquisition
Given by Sir John Aird 1883
return to start
back

Start exploring the RA Collection

read more
  • Explore art works, paint-smeared palettes, scribbled letters and more...
  • Artists and architects have run the RA for 250 years.
    Our Collection is a record of them.
Start exploring