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Wildlife in Art

September 4^th is National Wildlife Day and here at overstockArt.com we believe that the beauty of nature can be captured in art to be shared even in urban settings. Wildlife scenes can come in a variety of styles and motifs, focusing on many different animals. They bring a feeling of calm serenity into any room and add a natural element to your home. We have gathered some of our favorite wildlife pieces here for your enjoyment.

Claude Monet-The Pond with Ducks in Autumn

This landscape was painted to depict a beautiful fall day, with radiant trees in the background. His use of red and orange tones makes the setting a warm and inviting one. The tiny ducks in the foreground give it a whimsical feeling. The sky is a crisp blue and the slight clouds add the changing of the season. The building is a prominent feature, though no people are shown and it appears to be a natural part of the scene.

George Stubbs-Greenland Falcon

This realistic portrayal of a majestic predatory bird is the only known picture of a falcon made by renowned English wildlife painter George Stubbs. Made in 1780, Stubbs painted from a live, captive bird sitting on a perch in front of him. The bird in question is now known as a gyrfalcon and is found throughout the northern hemisphere, rather than exclusively in Greenland. The largest of all falcon species, it can be found breeding along many an Arctic coast during the proper season.

Henri Rousseau-The Sleeping Gypsy

The Sleeping Gypsy is a wonderful example of the way in which the artist depicted familiar scenes in a unique and striking way. His use of simple shapes and exaggerated lines give him clear ties to movements like Cubism and Surrealism. Rousseau also chose rich, bright colors that give his work an otherworldly quality. In this scene, a gypsy sleeps peacefully under the moon while a lion prowls nearby. Despite the silence of the moment, there’s a riveting level of tension in these two figures coming so close to one another without the gypsy’s knowledge.

Vincent Van Gogh-The Kingfisher

Although largely overshadowed by his self-portraits and prolifically produced landscapes, Vincent Van Gogh also painted a fair number of pictures of animals. Ranging from mammals to crustaceans, insects to birds, finding one of his tableaus featuring wildlife feels like a real treat. Seen here is a rendering of a kingfisher, perched by the waterside. The teals and olive greens of the bird’s feathers fit nicely alongside the water and grasses. So too do the birds accents of umber and gold complement the yellowed stalks of grass.

Franz Marc-Deer in the Forest

With its intense colors and geometric shapes, Franz Marc’s painting Deer in the Forest is instantly captivating to anyone who comes across it. The rich, bold tones and sharp lines add an undeniable energy to an otherwise peaceful scene in nature. It’s this fresh take on natural subjects that made Marc such a revolutionary for his time. The deer are the focus of the painting, but are wrapped up in the swirl of color that transports you to another place.

Martin Johnson Heade-Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds

This oil painting has an inspiring setting that is sure to bring many admirers. The birds act as a perfect accent to the brightly colored flower that is the focus of the piece. Martin Johnson Heade was a prolific American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, portraits of tropical birds, as well as lotus blossoms and other still life images. His painting style and subject matter was derived from the romanticism of the time.

Archibald Thorburn-Peacock and Peacock Butterfly

Archibald Thorburn’s painting Peacock and Peacock Butterfly is a visually stunning depiction of a peacock in full display courting a small peacock butterfly nestled near the bottom left of the canvas. Both are set against a backdrop of a red rhododendron in bloom during a blazing sunset. The combination gives a rush of life and beauty to the scene. A vibrant symbol of nobility and refinement, these birds were once in-demand pets among the upper class and aristocracy.

Albrecht Durer-The Little Owl

This was a watercolor painting originally with some gouache and pen added to bring out the details of the owl particularly in the plumage and talons. The artist went against the norm of using the owl as a symbol of the danger of the night, but rather focused on depicting the beauty of this animal as found in nature.

This is only a small sample of the vast options we have to offer. Look through our animal subjects gallery and we are sure you will find the perfect piece for your own home. Bring a little bit of the outdoors inside and relax among the wild creatures.