Artwork
Four Oxen Pulling a Plough
Four Oxen Pulling a Plough is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Constant Troyon. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2015.452
- Credit line
- Bequest of Muriel Butkin
About this work
Overview
Four Oxen Pulling a Plough is a drawing by Constant Troyon, created in 1853, and is now held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts four oxen pulling a wooden plow through a furrowed field, capturing the strength and labor of rural animals.
Technique & Style
Troyon's work showcases his attention to detail, as seen in the rendering of the oxen's muscles and the texture of their fur, as well as the turned earth.
Context
Troyon's work reflects the agricultural practices of 19th-century rural France, where animal labor was still prevalent.
Artist & collection
Artist
Constant Troyon was a French painter of the Barbizon school. In the early part of his career, he painted mostly landscapes. It was only comparatively late in life that Troyon found his métier as a painter of animals,…
