Who painted Wobourn Sheepshearing?

Wobourn Sheepshearing was painted by George Garrard in 1810.

Where can I see Wobourn Sheepshearing?

Wobourn Sheepshearing is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Wobourn Sheepshearing?

Wobourn Sheepshearing is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Wobourn Sheepshearing

George Garrard , 1810

Wobourn Sheepshearing is an ink print by the Romanticist artist George Garrard. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Nearby, a small building with a sign reading "ERECTED FRANCIS DAKE 1796" stands, and more people mill about in the background under a big tree.

This busy scene shows a crowded outdoor gathering with lots of people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. In the center, a group of men in hats and coats stand around a pen full of sheep. Some men are holding sticks or talking, while others tend to the animals. Nearby, a small building with a sign reading "ERECTED FRANCIS DAKE 1796" stands, and more people mill about in the background under a big tree.

The sheep in the pen look calm, but the people around them seem focused on the task at hand. The whole scene is printed in a single brown tone, giving it a soft, slightly fuzzy look.

This print uses the technique: etching, drypoint, aquatint.

Overview

Wobourn Sheepshearing is a print by George Garrard, created in 1810. It is a complex scene rendered in various printmaking techniques on wove paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a rural gathering centered around a sheep pen, where men in traditional attire are tending to sheep and engaging in conversation. The scene is set against a backdrop of a small building and a large tree, with numerous figures milling about.

Technique & Style

The print combines etching, stipple, engraving, and aquatint techniques to achieve a soft, monochromatic effect in brown tone. The use of these techniques gives the image a slightly fuzzy appearance, with a focus on texture and atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The print is currently held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington. The building in the scene bears a sign indicating it was erected by Francis Dake in 1796, providing a historical anchor for the depicted event.