Ecorche drawing of a dog's leg thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case PD, Shelf 321, Box B

Ecorche drawing of a dog's leg

Drawing
1821 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Edwin Landseer (1802-1873) was one of the most phenomenally successful artists of the Victorian era. His profound understanding of animal anatomy, upon which he built his career, was achieved through rigorous observation of écorché (skinned) specimens. In this he was encouraged by the artist Benjamin Robert Haydon, who later claimed that Landseer had 'dissected animals under my eye, copied my anatomical drawings, and carried my principles of study into animal painting'. Landseer attended classes in anatomy run by the famous surgeon Sir Charles Bell from his premises in Soho, London. In addition to these formal scientific studies, Landseer was also a regular visitor to Polito's Menagerie (later Mr Cross's Menagerie) at the Exeter Exchange in London, where he sketched lions and tigers.

This drawing is one of a group of eight anatomical studies of dogs and cats in the V&A which Landseer made between 1817 and 1821, when he was still in his teens.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleEcorche drawing of a dog's leg
Materials and techniques
Black, red and white chalk and graphite on buff-coloured paper
Brief description
Edwin Landseer, ecorche drawing of a dog's leg, 1821
Physical description
Ecorche drawing of a dog's leg.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.2cm
  • Width: 45cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Signed and dated upper right '1821 EL'
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of funds from the Daviest bequest and the Isabella M Gaster bequest
Object history
Edwin Landseer; his sale of 1874 (probably lot 981); Charles Mansel Lewis and thence by descent; purchased 2010
Subject depicted
Summary
Edwin Landseer (1802-1873) was one of the most phenomenally successful artists of the Victorian era. His profound understanding of animal anatomy, upon which he built his career, was achieved through rigorous observation of écorché (skinned) specimens. In this he was encouraged by the artist Benjamin Robert Haydon, who later claimed that Landseer had 'dissected animals under my eye, copied my anatomical drawings, and carried my principles of study into animal painting'. Landseer attended classes in anatomy run by the famous surgeon Sir Charles Bell from his premises in Soho, London. In addition to these formal scientific studies, Landseer was also a regular visitor to Polito's Menagerie (later Mr Cross's Menagerie) at the Exeter Exchange in London, where he sketched lions and tigers.

This drawing is one of a group of eight anatomical studies of dogs and cats in the V&A which Landseer made between 1817 and 1821, when he was still in his teens.
Bibliographic reference
Susan Owens, 'Ecorché drawings by Edwin Landseer', Burlington Magazine, 1310 (May 2012), 337-344 (no. 12)
Collection
Accession number
E.7-2011

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Record createdJanuary 5, 2011
Record URL
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