Man Struggling with an Ox
1747
watercolor
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1747
watercolor
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Man Struggling with an Ox is a 1747 watercolor by Giovanni Francesco Costa, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a man tangled in a giant ox’s legs. The ox is brown with green leaves on its back, and its legs wrap around the man like ropes. The man is small, curled up under the ox’s belly, with a red hat peeking out. The artist used ink lines and added color by hand, making the leaves and fur look textured. The ox’s belly is a soft pink, while the man’s clothes stay mostly dark. Next, check out the Baroque movement for more dramatic, twisting scenes.
