A Sheep Resting
1805
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1805
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
A Sheep Resting is a 1805 graphite by James Ward, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a sheep curled up on its side, resting on a patch of grass. The fur is drawn in quick, fuzzy strokes, and the body looks soft and heavy. The artist used light watercolor washes to show the sheep’s wool and the ground beneath it. The sheep’s head is tucked under its belly, almost like it’s sleeping. The artist left some areas rough and others smooth, which makes the wool look real. Want to see more animal sketches like this? Check out the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
