Artwork
Cows on a River's Edge
Cows on a River's Edge is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Thomas Sidney Cooper. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Cows on a River's Edge is a watercolour painting created by Thomas Sidney Cooper in 1849. It depicts a serene scene of cattle grazing and resting near a riverbank.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a group of cows in various poses along a gently sloping riverbank, with calm water and a subtle background featuring trees and a distant building. The cows are rendered in varying tones, capturing their rest and activity.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of watercolour allows for a soft, nuanced depiction of the scene. A related sketch reveals Cooper's initial bold and expressive approach, simplifying the cows into strong shapes with pronounced light and shadow contrasts.
History & Provenance
The painting was part of Richard Ellison's collection of 100 British watercolours. Following his death, his widow donated the collection to the National Collection of Water Colour Paintings in 1860 and 1873.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Sidney Cooper was an English landscape painter from Canterbury, noted for his images of cattle and farm animals.
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