Artwork
A goat, with two figure sketches
A goat, with two figure sketches is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 16 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work consists of a primary drawing depicting a goat at rest, accompanied by two ancillary sketches that portray a figure bearing baskets suspended from a pole across his shoulders. All three images are executed on paper, forming a compact study that juxtaposes animal and human activity within a single visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The central goat is shown grazing, suggesting a tranquil pastoral scene, while the accompanying figures illustrate the labor of transporting goods. Together, the images may reflect everyday rural life, emphasizing the interdependence of livestock and human labor in agricultural contexts.
Technique & Style
Rendered in drawing, the pieces employ line work to define form and movement. The goat is outlined with confident strokes that convey its posture, whereas the human sketches use simpler, gestural lines to suggest motion and the weight of the baskets. The overall style is observational, focusing on quick, economical representation.
History & Provenance
The drawing is catalogued as a single sheet containing three related studies. Its origin, date, and creator are not specified in the available information, and no record of prior ownership or exhibition history has been documented.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.
Figures and animals
Cows and goats
A grazing goat
A Chinese man with a pole and basket, and two cows
A goat, and a soldier
Two figures with a cow and calf; and a goat
Two figures with a basket, goats and pigs
A figure seated between two baskets, and a cow
An Indian cow, and a goat
The head and neck of a goat