A traditional theme in genre painting, but also seen in children’s portraits, are children interacting with their pets. Pets, then and now, were given to children to encourage responsibility and even empathy toward other creatures. Pictures in the theme Maine Haylofts (13.7) also include children and pets. —PH
Hills, 2021: Two inscriptions of the name Hartman on the verso of this sketch suggest that Mrs. Johnson gave it to American art critic Sadakichi Hartmann in connection with his writing about the finished painting Girl in Landscape with Two Lambs, 1875 (Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts) in "Eastman Johnson: American Genre Painter," The International Studio, vol. 34, 1908, p. 110.
Hills opinion letter, 2001: "Although Feeding the Lamb is a sketch, Johnson shows his characteristic skill in handling the girl's form, the lamb close to her, those in the distance, and the moors, sea and sky. Her face has a sweet expression as she looks down at the lamb to feed it."
- Subject matter:
- Sheep »