Study of Turkeys c. 1840s

David Cox’s "Study of Turkeys" is a charming and spontaneous sketch of a flock of turkeys, completed in the 1840s. Cox, a renowned British watercolorist, used a loose, expressive style to capture the birds' natural postures and movements. The sketch emphasizes the textures of the turkeys' feathers, rendered with delicate washes and hatched lines, creating a sense of depth and volume. The simple composition and focused subject matter highlight Cox's expertise in capturing the essence of his subjects with a quick and masterful hand.