The Monarch of the Glen 1851

The English artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) painted ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ in 1851, using almost pastel-like shades of oil paint. This majestic work is among the most famous paintings emerging from Victorian Britain. Here, Landseer depicts a grand and impressive red deer. With its sleek coat and head raised proudly, the animal exudes power and magnificence. It’s no coincidence that this type of deer is known as a Royal Stag! Royal Stags have twelve points on their antlers and are a symbol of the Scottish Highlands. The stag stands at the centre of the canvas, against a background of imposing misty mountains. ️ Landseer is best known for his work on the lion sculptures in London’s Trafalgar Square. He was a key artist in Romanticism, a movement which emphasised emotion and appreciation of nature. In this painting, Landseer builds a sense of awe through depicting the wild and untouched natural landscape. This reflects the Romantic concept of the ‘sublime’. How does the background landscape make you feel? Are you impressed, astonished, or slightly scared? ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ (1851) was commissioned for Westminster Palace, also known as the Houses of Parliament. However, the House of Commons would not pay the sum Landseer asked for the painting – around £20,000 in today’s money! it was instead purchased by several private companies, who used the image in advertising campaigns. The work has been described as ‘the ultimate biscuit tin image of Scotland’, and features on the packaging of countless products today. Have you seen it on any unexpected items?