Sir Edwin Henry Landseer

Shoeing

exhibited 1844

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Sir Edwin Henry Landseer 1802–1873
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 1422 x 1118 mm
Frame: 1815 x 1505 x 130 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Bequeathed by Jacob Bell 1859
Reference: N00606

Display caption

This picture was commissioned by Jacob Bell who was one of Landseer’s most important patrons. It portrays Bell’s mare ‘Old Betty’. Bell originally wanted Landseer to depict the mare with her foal. However, Landseer repeatedly put off the commission. By the time he was ready to paint ‘Old Betty’ the foal had outgrown its mother. In introducing a donkey into the composition Landseer was using a device popular with many other animal painters, whereby the donkey’s rough coat is contrasted with the sleekness of the horse.

Gallery label, November 2016

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

interiors(4,584)
- workspaces(923)
  - forge(13)
nature(46,524)
- animals: mammals(5,151)
  - dog - non-specific(1,119)
  - donkey(239)
  - horse(1,705)
objects(23,664)
- tools and machinery(1,341)
  - tool(24)
work and occupations(14,389)
- industrial and crafts(1,379)
  - blacksmith(20)

You might like

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Alexander and Diogenes’ exhibited 1848

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Alexander and Diogenes

exhibited 1848

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘A Dialogue at Waterloo’ exhibited 1850

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer A Dialogue at Waterloo

exhibited 1850

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Low Life’ 1829, exhibited 1831

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Low Life

1829, exhibited 1831

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Boy, Donkey and Foal - Mischief in Full Play’ 1822

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Boy, Donkey and Foal - Mischief in Full Play

1822

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society’ exhibited 1838

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society

exhibited 1838

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Deer and Deer Hounds in a Mountain Torrent (‘The Hunted Stag’)’ ?1832, exhibited 1833

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Deer and Deer Hounds in a Mountain Torrent (‘The Hunted Stag’)

?1832, exhibited 1833

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘A Scene at Abbotsford’ exhibited 1827

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer A Scene at Abbotsford

exhibited 1827

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Highland Dogs’ c.1839

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Highland Dogs

c.1839

Frederick Goodall, ‘The Tired Soldier Resting at a Roadside Well’ 1842, exhibited 1842

Frederick Goodall The Tired Soldier Resting at a Roadside Well

1842, exhibited 1842

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘Dignity and Impudence’ 1839

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Dignity and Impudence

1839

John Linnell, ‘Harvest Home, Sunset: The Last Load’ 1853

John Linnell Harvest Home, Sunset: The Last Load

1853

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘The Duchess of Abercorn and Child’ 1834–6

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer The Duchess of Abercorn and Child

1834–6

Abraham Solomon, ‘Waiting for the Verdict’ 1857

Abraham Solomon Waiting for the Verdict

1857

James Collinson, ‘Home Again’ 1856

James Collinson Home Again

1856

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art

William Powell Frith, ‘The Derby Day’ 1856–8

William Powell Frith The Derby Day

1856–8

In the shop

Browse the shop