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Studies of a Bear

Leonard Bramer

1624

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Animal Bear

Dominant colour

Studies of a Bear is a 1624 chalk by Leonard Bramer, a Baroque work, depicting Bear, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Leonard Bramer
When & what style?: 1624 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You see a sheet of paper filled with quick, loose sketches of a bear. The lines look fast and sure, like the artist drew them in minutes. The bear sits, stands, turns its head—all in simple brown wash with a few dabs of blue. Bramer worked in the 1600s. He often drew animals this way for practice, not finished art. The blue wash might be a later touch, maybe to test colors. Check out Bramer, Leonard next.