Cattle Fording a Stream

Henry Moore R.W.S., R.A. 1831 - 1895

Summary

Moorland landscape under a dramatic sunset sky, with a herd of cattle in centre foreground being driven across the ford of a stream by two men on horseback, with some pausing for a drink of water. The cattle have large horns and russet coloured coats. One of the horsemen, on a white pony, has reached the brink of the ford and turns to look back at the herd, which is brought up at the rear by the second horseman. To the left, a dog bothers one of the cattle; beyond are stacked sheaves of hay in a field. To the right, behind a tree-covered mound, is a cottage with smoke coming from the chimney. The sky dominates the composition, its streaked cloud formations giving a great sense of depth with brilliant pink and orange hues.

Display Label

Gallery text panel The Pre-Raphaelites in their Time Britain's first and best-known radical art movement emerged from within the Royal Academy in 1848. Its original members were rebellious art students who were disillusioned with contemporary practice. They looked back to Italian art before Raphael, seeing the pre-1500 period as one of great sincerity. They called themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In an age of rapid industrial and urban expansion, Pre-Raphaelite artists like Rossetti, Hunt and Millais, and pioneering design reformers such as William Morris, sought a return to pre-industrial values of art and design in truth to nature and materials, and good workmanship. In addition, the arts of the Middle Ages and Middle East were important sources of stylistic inspiration. The Bible, literature and contemporary life were preferred over subjects derived from classical mythology. The Brotherhood also rejected contrived studio lighting and took canvases outside to paint directly from nature. Although attempting to convey exactly what they saw, they created a heightened reality of dream-like intensity with minute details and bright, dazzling colours. Their art was a new kind of history painting for a new age.