1790
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Donkey Stretching a Hind Leg is a 1790 graphite by John Flaxman, a Romanticism work, depicting Donkey, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a donkey stretching one back leg. Its ribs show under shaggy fur. The artist used just graphite on paper—no color, no paint. Flaxman made over a hundred drawings like this. He studied animals closely, then simplified their shapes into clean lines. It’s not just a sketch—it’s a lesson in how to see. If this style grabs you, try Flaxman, John.
John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was an English sculptor and draughtsman who was a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism.
See the richer artist page
