Bull's head
19th century
Belgian artist Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven was basically the 19th-century equivalent of a wildlife photographer, but with paintbrushes. In this striking portrait, he gives a bull the royal treatment, setting it against a bold, flat blue background that makes the reddish-brown fur and curly white hair pop. The animal's gentle, almost human-like eye and slightly open mouth give it a surprising amount of personality, proving that the Romantic movement wasn't just about stormy seas and dramatic ruins—it was also about finding the soul in nature's creatures.
Views: 1