Album Sheet with a Bison

anonymous, c. 1550 - c. 1570

The bison’s head is slightly too large, its horns twist too far back, and its tail does not hang straight down. The artist probably did not study this animal from life. Yet bisons were not completely unknown in Europe during the 16th century. For instance, Margaret of Austria kept ‘wild cows’ in her menagerie in Leuven, and Emperor Maximilian I of Austria was presented with a gift of five bisons when he visited Nuremberg in 1501.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1952-351
  • Dimensionsheight 186 mm x width 255 mm x height 228 mm x width 275 mm
  • Physical characteristicspen in bruin en zwart, penseel in bruin, zwart en geelbruin