Caricatures by Edwin Landseer

Sir Edwin Landseer (1802 – 73) was one of the most successful and accomplished painters of the Victorian period. He is remembered for his technically brilliant and emotionally charged animal paintings such as The Monarch of the Glen.  He also sculpted the colossal bronze lions at the base of Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square, London. He was Queen Victoria’s favourite artist and remains a popular and much- reproduced artist.

Landseer’s caricatures are a less well-known aspect of his art. They were made for private purposing this display were originally owned by Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville, a firm friend of Landseer and frequent host to the artist. These caricatures show Landseer’s seemingly effortless ability to capture the physical oddities of his subjects. They are acute yet affectionate, showing figures from the aristocratic and cultural circles in which Landseer moved and form a witty record of some of the great personalities of his time.   
 
This display coincides with the publication of Edwin Landseer –The Private Drawings by Richard Ormond. Available in the Gallery bookshop priced £25.