Horse and Mules Grazing
n.d.
Medium
Pen and brown ink, over graphite, on cream laid paper, tipped onto pale greenish-gray wove paper
Dimensions
7.4 × 9.2 cm (2 15/16 × 3 5/8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83587
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, *Horse and Mules Graz* is a charming preparatory sketch by James Ward, leading British artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ward, celebrated for his dynamic animal portraits and landscapes, drew inspiration from the natural world, often capturing the vitality of livestock with a Romantic sensibility that emphasized emotion and observation. Though undated, this intimate work reflects his lifelong fascination with equine subjects, blending meticulous detail with a sense of pastoral tranquility. Executed in pe...
About the Artist
James Ward
James Ward was a prolific engraver, known as the most important animal painter of his generation in England. His work is characterized by subjects that are very animated, typically including horses, dogs or wild animals in agitated emotional states, the sense of movement being reinforced by vigorous brushwork and strong colors. His compositions are set in sweeping landscapes and dramatic skies, in...