This painting, which Potter made when he was only 21, is much larger than his usual work. Though it was probably a commission, it is unclear who the patron was and where the painting was meant to hang.
It was always assumed that Potter portrayed a real bull, but nothing could be further from the truth. Its constituent parts could never have belonged to one and the same animal.
- The dewlap and horns are those of a 2-year-old animal.
- The teeth are those of a 4-year-old.
- Its wide shoulders belong to an adult bull.
- The hindquarters are those of a young animal.
A close look reveals the seams in the canvas. The left-hand extension contains the farmer, the cow and the sheep, the right-hand extension some cattle grazing in a distant meadow.
- period: ca. 1647
- material: doek
- dimensions: 235.5 x 339 cm (92.7 × 133.5 in)
- Medium: oil on canvas
