Prize Bull
1876
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 50.7 x 63 cm (19 15/16 x 24 13/16 in.) framed: 58.9 x 72.4 x 6 cm (23 3/16 x 28 1/2 x 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch
Accession Number
1980.62.3
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**Prize Bull** (1876) by H. Call is a charming oil on canvas painting that captures the pride of 19th-century American rural life. Measuring about 50.7 x 63 cm, this work depicts a majestic bull, likely a champion from agricultural fairs or livestock shows, rendered with meticulous detail in the realistic style typical of American folk artists. Oil on canvas was a favored medium for such portraits, allowing rich textures to convey the animal's glossy coat, powerful musculature, and serene gaze, evoking admiration for breeding excellence. Created during the United States' centennial year—a tim...