Landseers animal paintings are different from others though because of the settings he put them in which were either in a traditional manner which was in their natural habitat, or more uniquely he would paint animals in houses, alongside humans or accompanying other animals which seem kind of random. There is often some kind of narrative which he places the animals in and it is usually in moments of distress—either for the animal or a person in the painting.
Edwin Henry Landseer was a child prodigy. His father was an engraver and he raised Edwin to practice art. He acquired the admiration of Queen Victoria and completed many paintings for her–enough to eventually be knighted. Landseer had work exhibited in the Royal Academy and this is what pushed him to fame in 1817. When his mother died, Landseer’s mental health took a turn for the worse and he spiraled. He tried to get better, but alas, he did not and was declared mentally insane a few years before he died. During the time that Landseer was trying to get better, he traveled. One place he particularly loved and kept going back to was Scotland. It is here that many of his outdoor scenes were inspired, particularly the “Monarch of the Glen” which embodies the charm he found in the highlands of Scotland. He had some people taking care of him, since his mental health prevented him from being able to take care of everyday tasks. Despite his inability to care for his health, he continued painting somehow. While he was a great painter, he is also very well known for some sculptural work called the Lions of Trafalgar Square.
I am inspired by Edwin Landseer because of the way that he kept trying to persevere. When probably everyone would have told him to stop painting and consider himself first, he didn’t. Or perhaps by continuing to paint, it was the best way that he could care for himself, even more than doing necessary tasks. I find it interesting how he was able to rise to fame doing animal paintings when another artist who I studied, Paul Bransom, claimed that hardly anyone cared about animal art. I think that Landseer is inspiring because he was able to accomplish the things that most people probably dream of. He became actual royalty because of his paintings and that is pretty amazing. It is inspiring for other animal artists as well because it can encourage them that perhaps people can care about it, or at least maybe the right person just has to.