Artwork
A Field Mouse, from Above
A Field Mouse, from Above is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Johann Rudolph Schellenberg. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Rudolph Schellenberg’s drawing titled *A Field Mouse, from Above* dates to around 1775. Executed on wove paper, the work combines watercolor, graphite, and black pen and ink. The composition presents a single mouse observed from an overhead perspective, set against an unadorned light background that isolates the animal for close examination.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a field mouse in a moment of locomotion, its front paws extended as if in mid‑step. The animal’s fur is rendered in subtle brown‑gray tones, while the tail appears darker, emphasizing anatomical features. By isolating the creature, the drawing serves both as a visual record of the species and as an illustration of natural form.
Technique & Style
Graphite provides the underlying sketch, while fine black pen and ink delineate details such as whiskers, paw contours, and fur texture.
Schellenberg employed a layered watercolor approach, building color through successive glazes to achieve depth in the mouse’s fur. Graphite provides the underlying sketch, while fine black pen and ink delineate details such as whiskers, paw contours, and fur texture. The meticulous rendering reflects the scientific illustration practices of the late eighteenth century, where accuracy was paramount.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1775, the work belongs to a period when natural history illustration flourished in Europe. Schellenberg, known for his contributions to zoological publications, produced this piece likely for a study or a manuscript on small mammals. The drawing’s subsequent ownership trail is not fully documented, but it remains an example of Enlightenment‑era scientific art.
Artist & collection
