A Hog, Sleeping c. 1807

James Ward made this graphite sketch, A Hog, Sleeping, likely in England in the late 18th or early 19th century. Animal portraiture was immensely popular at this time, but Ward’s sketch goes beyond a simple representation. This was a period of agricultural revolution, with new selective breeding practices transforming livestock. Hogs, often associated with filth and gluttony, became symbols of economic prosperity and national pride. Ward’s detailed rendering elevates the animal to a subject worthy of artistic attention, reflecting the changing attitudes toward nature and rural life during this period. The sketch could almost be a study for a history painting. The Royal Academy, of which Ward was a member, played a key role in shaping artistic taste and promoting British art. To truly appreciate this seemingly simple sketch, we can delve into the social and economic history of the era. Looking at agricultural journals and estate records can reveal the significance of livestock in British society and how artists like Ward were both reflecting and shaping those values.