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Image of Gallery in South Kensington

The Early Ploughman

Print
ca.1861 - 1867 (etched)
Artist/Maker
Palmer, Samuel (artist)
Palmer, Samuel (etcher)
Place of origin
England (etched)

Rural scene showing a ploughman driving a pair of oxen, with plough, towards the left of the image. Birds are taking flight above a bridge to the left of the scene and a figure holding a pot on their head is standing by a line of trees to the right.

Object details

Category
Prints
Object type
Print
Titles
  • The Early Ploughman (assigned by artist)
  • The Morning Spread upon the Mountains (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Etching print on paper
Printing Ink
Paper
Etching
Brief description
Etching. Samuel Palmer. The Early Ploughman (also known as The Morning Spread upon the Mountains), ca. 1861-1867. 'Very fine proof'.
Physical description
Rural scene showing a ploughman driving a pair of oxen, with plough, towards the left of the image. Birds are taking flight above a bridge to the left of the scene and a figure holding a pot on their head is standing by a line of trees to the right.
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 17.8cm
  • Plate width: 25.1cm
Taken from the dimensions given in the Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of the Prints, Drawings, Paintings & Photographs Collections and converted from inches to centimetres.
Production typeProof
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Samuel Palmer' (Signed in pencil.)
  • 'A. H. P. Private Press. Very fine proof.' (Annotated.)
  • 'A. H. P. November 7 1873, No.4: Retroussage under the direction of S. P. on Spalding and Hodge (paper).' (Inscribed on the back.)
Object history
First published state.
Production
The plate was begun before 1861.

Attribution note: First published state.
Subjects depicted
Agriculture
Ploughing
Ploughmen
Oxen
Landscape
Rural Scenes
Plough
Birds
Bridge
Pot
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D.
  • Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D. pp.79-80.
  • Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1919, London: Printed Under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1921
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1891-1919

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O827223/the-early-ploughman-print-palmer-samuel/
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