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The rectangular livestock paintings of Great Britain

Rob Beschizza
Nov 21, 2024
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John Vine (1808–1867)

What is it with all the paintings of alarmingly rectangular livestock in early-19th century Britain? Mostly cows, but also sheep and various barnyard animals, these weird creatures inhabit otherwise realistically-rendered canvases. The images now register as surreal, perhaps lowbrow, but what was the idea then?

The answer, as best I …

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