Who painted Study of a Cow?

Study of a Cow was painted by Johan Lundbye in 1840.

Where can I see Study of a Cow?

Study of a Cow is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Study of a Cow?

Study of a Cow is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Study of a Cow

Johan Lundbye , 1840

Study of a Cow is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist Johan Lundbye. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Johan Lundbye’s *Study of a Cow* (1840) is an oil painting that presents a solitary bovine set against a muted countryside. The animal, rendered in brown and white with modest horns and a head harness, occupies the central plane while the surrounding field and distant trees dissolve into a soft focus, under a gray, overcast sky.

Subject & Meaning

The work concentrates on a single farm animal, emphasizing the everyday reality of Danish agrarian life. By isolating the cow within a tranquil landscape, Lundbye highlights the intimate relationship between the nation’s people and their livestock, reflecting a modest, national‑romantic reverence for rural simplicity.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the painting employs a restrained palette and delicate brushwork to model the cow’s form and the atmospheric conditions. The blurred background contrasts with the more detailed rendering of the animal, a compositional choice that draws the viewer’s eye directly to the subject.

History & Provenance

Created during the height of the Danish realism movement, the piece was influenced by contemporary nationalist ideas promoted by critic Niels Laurits Høyen. It entered the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s 19th‑century holdings.

Context

Lundbye’s focus on animal and landscape motifs aligns with a broader trend among his peers, who sought to celebrate Denmark’s natural environment and cultural identity through art. The painting exemplifies the period’s turn toward depicting ordinary, locally resonant subjects rather than grand historical narratives.