Stag's Head (1842) by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73). Source: “Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” (1875): 322. “Lent by Algernon Graves, Esq.” Formatting and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document, or cite it in a print one.]
The ‘Stag's Head,’ a large but slight sketch in black chalk, is the property of Mr. Algernon Graves. This drawing is the study of the head of the stag in the painter's fine picture, 'The Sanctuary,’ exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1812, and now belonging to her Majesty. Mr. A. Graves says, in his excellent catalogue of the works of Landseer, that the picture was painted for Mr. W. Wells, who paid the artist 100 guineas for it, but afterwards gave it up to the Prince Consort. Even in this rapidly dashed-off sketch of the animal’s head, drooping with fatigue and with the sound of the dogs still echoing in its ears, there is as much real character as in the finished picture, of which there are no fewer than four different engravings, all of them varying in size. [321]
Bibliography
“Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” Art-Journal (1875): 321-24. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 24 March 2014
Last modified 26 March 2014