1779
oil
canvas
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Boy Attempting to Restrain a Cow by a Rope is a 1779 oil by Jean Honoré Fragonard, a Rococo painting work, held at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
In the painting, a young boy is shown trying to restrain a cow by a rope. The boy is dressed in a white shirt and brown shorts, while the cow is depicted in shades of white and brown. The scene is set against a dark background, which contrasts with the lighter tones of the boy and the cow. The boy's facial expression and body language convey a sense of determination and effort as he attempts to control the cow. The cow, on the other hand, appears to be resisting the boy's efforts, its head turned away from him. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's attention to the central figures of the boy and the cow. For more information on this artistic technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born on 5 April 1732 in Grasse, the son of a glover, and moved with his family to Paris in 1738.
See the richer artist page
