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A Council of Animals

Howitt

1790

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Romanticism 18th Century Animal

Dominant colour

A Council of Animals is a 1790 watercolor by Howitt, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Howitt
When & what style?: 1790 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a group of animals gathered together. In the top half, a lion, a tiger, a leopard, and a wolf are depicted. The lion is in the center, with the tiger to its right and the leopard and wolf to its left. In the bottom half, a dog is shown howling at a sheep, while a bird stands nearby. The animals are rendered in a realistic style, with attention to detail in their fur and facial expressions. The background is a muted color, which helps to focus the viewer's attention on the animals. The painting is an example of Romanticism, a movement that emphasized emotion and the beauty of nature. For more on this style, explore the Romanticism movement.