Studies of a Hippopotamus, one head and shoulders and two heads

1825

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Studies of a Hippopotamus, one head and shoulders and two heads is a 1825 by Henry Salt, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Henry Salt
When & what style?: 1825 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a 1825 drawing by Henry Salt. It shows a hippopotamus, a giant animal that lived in the Nile Delta back then. It’s a study, meant to capture the animal’s look. Salt was a diplomat and collector who hunted hippos near Damietta. He sketched what he saw and even got the skin later. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this drawing in person.

The story of this work

Overview

Henry Salt’s *Studies of a Hippopotamus* comprises three drawings: one depicting the head and shoulders of the animal and two showing separate heads. Created after Salt observed a hippopotamus killed near Damietta in 1818, the sketches reflect his firsthand encounter with the creature and his skill as a trained artist. The drawings were later included in the Bonomi album, documenting Salt’s broader work in Egypt and his role as a collector and diplomat.

Read the full account in the museum source.