1830
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The Stone Breaker and His Daughter is a 1830 oil by Edwin Landseer, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
The painting shows a stone breaker and his daughter. The stone breaker is worn out from his labor, while his daughter looks fresh and young. This contrast highlights the harsh conditions of their work, which was crucial for building new roads. Check out the technique of chiaroscuro to learn more about how artists use light and dark to create depth in paintings like this one.
The painting depicts a laborer engaged in the arduous task of breaking stones, a necessary but grueling job for road construction in the early 19th century. A young girl stands beside him, her appearance contrasting with his weathered condition. This work is among the earliest in a series by different artists that highlight the harsh realities of this poorly compensated labor.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Sir Edwin Henry Landseer was an English painter and sculptor, well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, dogs, and stags. His best-known work is the lion sculptures at the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
See the richer artist page
