Artwork
A Stag beneath a Mighty Oak
A Stag beneath a Mighty Oak is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Johann Elias Ridinger. It dates from 1735 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:signed and dated at bottom left in brown ink: Joh: Elias. Ridinger delineavit A:o 1735.; inscribed by the artist at bottom center in brown ink: Anno 1735 den 22. Augusti/Haben Ihro Hochfürstl. Durchl:/Carl Alexander Herzog zu Würtemberg, diesen/Hirsch in den Vor--halden Frickenhauser Huth/Kirchheimer Forst geschossen.; inscribed by the artist at center right aove the castle in brown ink: hohen Neuffen
About this work
Overview
A Stag beneath a Mighty Oak is a drawing created by Johann Elias Ridinger in 1735. It is executed in pen and brown and gray ink with brown and gray wash over graphite on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a stag standing beneath a large oak tree, capturing the animal's calm demeanor and the tree's imposing presence. The detailed rendering of the stag's fur and the tree's bark suggests a deep observation of nature.
Technique & Style
Ridinger's use of fine lines and subtle tonal washes creates a precise yet expressive representation of the scene. The technique conveys a sense of realism, particularly in the rendering of the stag's legs and the texture of the tree's bark.
History & Provenance
Ridinger was a prominent German artist known for his depictions of animals and hunting scenes. His work was widely recognized, appearing not only in prints and drawings but also on Meissen porcelain.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Elias Ridinger (16 February 1698 in Ulm – 10 April 1767 in Augsburg) was a German painter, engraver, draughtsman and publisher.
