Staande stier, naar rechts 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard made this drawing of a standing bull facing right with graphite pencil. It presents an almost clinical study of animal anatomy during a period when natural history was flourishing as a popular science. Drawings of this kind were often commissioned by wealthy landowners who wished to classify and record the livestock they owned. The detailed rendering of the animal, with careful attention paid to musculature and coat texture, also speaks to the artist's skill and the cultural value placed on such representational accuracy. Produced in the Netherlands, its attention to realism and detail reflects the broader artistic tradition of Dutch Golden Age painting, albeit now applied to the genre of animal portraiture. To truly understand its place in the history of art and agriculture, one might consult contemporary farming journals or estate records. These archives help to reveal the intertwined histories of art, science, and social status.