Artwork
Cattle Resting
Cattle Resting is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Hills. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cattle Resting is a pen-and-tusche lithograph created by Robert Hills in 1807, exemplifying his penchant for rural and pastoral themes.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene scene of cattle at rest in a field, enveloped by trees, bushes, and a log fence in the background, conveying a sense of natural tranquility.
Technique & Style
Executed in pen-and-tusche lithograph, the work utilizes a range of tonal values to achieve depth and atmosphere, characteristic of a style that highlights the beauty of the natural world.
History & Provenance
Robert Hills, a British artist born in 1769 and trained at the Royal Academy of Arts, produced this work within his broader oeuvre of farm animal and rural scenes, now held in esteemed collections like the British Museum.
Context
Cattle Resting can be contextualized within the broader artistic movement of Romanticism, which emphasized emotional resonance with nature, though Hills' style tends towards a more subdued, observational approach.
Legacy
As part of Hills' body of work focusing on pastoral subjects, Cattle Resting contributes to the artist's legacy in capturing the quiet beauty of rural life in early 19th-century Britain.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Hills (26 June 1769 – 14 May 1844) was an English painter and etcher. Hills was born in Islington. He initially studied under John Alexander Gresse, then enrolled at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1788. He…
