Sheep, Lamb and Ducks by a pond
1856
Look at that fluffy wool! Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven was a master at capturing the texture of animal coats, and here he proves it with a standing sheep that looks like you could reach out and touch its fleece. Set against a dramatic, cloud-filled sky typical of the Romantic era, this peaceful scene features a family of sheep resting by a pond while a pair of ducks paddle nearby. Verboeckhoven was a Belgian artist who became so famous for his animal paintings that he often collaborated with other landscape painters, though here he seems to have handled the whole idyllic countryside himself. It's a perfect snapshot of rural life from 1856, making you almost hear the bleating and the splashing water.