Animals on Canvas

I think that paintings depicting animals are very creative and imaginative. This begins a short series about all kinds of animal paintings with a link to each given below. What have I got planned? After this article, there will be paintings depicting wild animals, lions, horses, and cows.

European Artists

The Entry of the Animals into Noah’s Ark 1613 Jan Brueghel the Elder

Flemish painter Jan Brueghel was a painter during the Renaissance. He was best known for his artwork of nature scenes, plants, and landscapes. His inspiration for this painting came from the Bible story about Noah who built a huge ark and took two of every species of animal on Earth to save them from a massive flood.

The Monarch of the Glen 1851 Edwin Landseer

Scottish painter Edwin Landseer was known for creating realistic paintings featuring both nature and animals. For this artwork, he got inspiration from the fact that stags and various species of antlered deer symbolize royalty and elegance in European culture. He chose to do a painting of the red stag native to the hills and mountains of Scotland. The artwork of the large, 12-pointed red stag became one of the most iconic images embraced by Scotland in the years after this painting. It is a realistic work showing great detail with the wind breezing through the stag’s hair as he stands on the mountain ridge.

The Horse Fair 1853 Rosa Bonheur

French painter Rosa Bonheur was one of the most famous female artists during her time as well as being one of the great painters of the 19th century. She could capture animals in motion in her paintings. This artwork depicts thoroughbred horses are they parade into the fairgrounds in Paris, France. Here the horses were bought and sold and she portrayed them in a realistic fashion.

The Bachelor Party 1939 Louis Wain

English artist Louis Wain was known for his love of cats. One of his most popular works of art depicted a comical interpretation of cats giving them human tendencies. This painting has become popular with cat lovers all over the world. The artist suffered with severe mental disorders and some thought his later works showed signs of schizophrenia. The Bachelor Party was celebrated for his creation of tom cats gathering around a table and enjoying drinks and smokes as human men would do at a bachelor party. The cats’ expressions add much humor to this artwork.

Peacock, Hen, and Male Pheasant in a Landscape First half of the 18th century Tobias Stranover

Romanian artist Tobia Stranover became a well-traveled and accomplished artist by the time he was in his early 20s. He was known for his love of animals particularly, birds. The artwork is a reproduction of a small animal menagerie featuring elegant birds like peacocks. These birds were synonymous with high status and wealth. Stranover gained notoriety for his artworks featuring groups of birds posed in ways displaying their impressive colors and plumage in sunlight.

The Floating Feather 1680 Melchior d’Hondecoeter

Dutch painter Melchior d’Hondecoeter was known for his paintings of birds and other animals in natural settings. This artwork is among his best-known works. It depicts many different birds of the water-dwelling species like cranes, ducks, pelicans, and others.

Young Bull 1647 Paulus Potter

Dutch artist Paulus Potter depicts a young bull in his oil on canvas artwork. It can be viewed at the Mauritshuis in the Hague Netherlands. The artwork is a creation with realistic details. While the artist enjoyed fame for his artwork in the 18th and 19th centuries he is relatively unknown today.

The Goldfinch 1654 Carel Fabritius

Dutch artist Carel Fabritius was one of the most prominent Dutch artists of the 17th century. The artist is responsible for the era becoming known among art historians and critics as the Dutch Golden Age. Fabritius is known for his paintings of animals, particularly birds. One of his most famous artworks is titled The Goldfinch creating many different shades of golden yellow. This painting was done on a wooden panel and was lost for two centuries until it was found in Brussels, Belgium, and restored in 2003.

Yellow Cow 1911 Franz Marc

German artist Franz Marc is best known for his artwork of Expressionist-style animal paintings. This oil on canvas depicts a yellow leaping cow. It is part of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s collections and can be viewed in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Young Hare 1502 Albrecht Durer

German artist Albrecht Durer painted his artwork Young Hare or Feldhase in German in his workshop. His creation appears to be more like a photograph than a painting.

American Artists

A Friend in Need 1903 C.M. Coolidge

American artist CM Coolidge was known for creating comical paintings of animals involved in human activities. This artwork is one of his most iconic and well-known. It depicts a group of dogs gathered around a table playing a card game. In the painting we see one dog helping out his friend in need. Since it was originally created this painting has been recreated many times and is one of the most recognized artworks in the US.

Hunting Dogs in a Boat 1889 Winslow Homer

American painter Winslow Homer is one of the most famous American artists of the 19th century. He is best known for his marine settings and people enjoying nature. In this artwork, he depicts hunting dogs in a small wooden boat floating across a lake. It was painted during the height of his art career. Lovely autumn leaves can be seen in the background indicating the dogs were going to be part of a hunt during the autumn season.