Artwork
Ox Rubbing Itself Against Rails
Ox Rubbing Itself Against Rails is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Robert Hills. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ox Rubbing Itself Against Rails is a watercolour painting created by Robert Hills in 1790. It depicts a rural scene featuring an ox interacting with a wooden rail.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on an ox, shown rubbing its head against a horizontal beam between two wooden posts. The ox is rendered in detail, with a white coat, brown forehead patch, and curved horn. The surrounding landscape includes trees and a house.
Technique & Style
Hills employed a range of colours to capture the scene, from the greens of the trees to the browns of the rail. The ox's movement is conveyed dynamically, suggesting a sense of energy.
Context
This work is associated with the broader artistic trends of its time, including the emerging Romanticism movement, which often emphasized natural themes and landscapes.
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…
