Project Drawing Animals

Research Point


Looking at Renaissance masters I discovered that not many saw animals as a worthy subject to draw. Albrecht Durer and Leonardo Da Vinci are two of such masters. During this period, most artist believed the drawing of animal form was only used to show the artist talent to show detail.

Durer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528)

The Rhinoceros, 1515 (woodcut)

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was one the the first artists to see animals as a worthwhile subject for drawing. The British Museum holds the pen and ink drawing: A Rhinoceros. Durer draw this by copying a sketch by an unknown artist and using some notes. As he had never seen this animal in real life, the anatomy is not totally correct.

Wing of a Blue Roller, 1512 (w/c on vellum with gold)

Durer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528)

Three studies of a bullfinch (w/c & gouache on paper)

Durer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528

Study of a Horse (metal point on paper) (b/w photo)
Vinci, Leonardo da



Study of a dog and a cat, c.1480 (metalpoint on paper)

Vinci, Leonardo da (1452-1519)



Studies of Horses legs (pen and ink on paper)

Vinci, Leonardo da (1452-1519)

Study of Horsemen in Combat, 1503-4 (pen and ink on paper)

Vinci, Leonardo da (1452-1519)



Monkeys, from The Vallardi Album (pen & ink on paper) (b/w photo)

Pisanello, Antonio (1395-1455)




Two horses, from the The Vallardi Album (pen & ink on paper) (b/w photo)

Pisanello, Antonio (1395-1455)

 

Bounding cheetah with a red collar (w/c on parchment)

Pisanello, Antonio (1395-1455)











Exercise: Grabbing the chance

My dog Shadow

My model was not very willing. She kept moving away if I looked at her too long, or jumped on me thinking I was playing. This was challenging for me as drawing animals is not my best subject.