Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Benjamin Blake died in 1830; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1900.
In context
A Hanging Hare — Benjamin Blake
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 73 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Benjamin Blake (1757–1830) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/benjamin-blake-a-hanging-hare-9CVUC2-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Phthalo Green #1e1716
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 28 works by this artist, of which 7 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in United Kingdom
Benjamin Blake was a British violinist, viola player and composer whose artistic legacy resides primarily in his evocative landscape paintings—particularly those imbued with the spirit of the Scottish Highlands. Born in Hackney, London, on February 22nd, 1757, Blake’s life unfolded against the backdrop of Georgian England, a period marked by burgeoning Romantic sensibilities and an increasing fascination with untamed wilderness. Despite limited formal artistic training initially, Blake possessed an innate talent for observation and representation, skills honed through his musical pursuits—he was taught violin by Antonín Kammel and later by Wilhelm Cramer—which instilled in him a meticulous attention to detail and a profound understanding of tonal harmony that would subsequently translate into his visual art.
Early Life & Musical Training: Blake’s formative years were spent immersed in the musical world, shaping his sensibilities and developing a disciplined approach to artistic creation. His association with orchestras like the Italian Opera orchestra at King's Theatre provided invaluable experience in performance and fostered an appreciation for expressive instrumentation.
Career as Viola Player: Blake gained prominence as a viola player, securing positions at prestigious venues such as the Professional Concert from 1785 to 1793. This role demanded precision and artistry—a characteristic that would define his artistic style.
Blake's distinctive aesthetic can be characterized by a masterful blend of tonal harmony and meticulous observation. He drew inspiration from the Romantic movement, embracing its emphasis on emotion and imagination—particularly as expressed through depictions of dramatic landscapes. However, Blake’s artistic vision extended beyond mere imitation; he sought to capture not just what he saw but also what he felt—a palpable sense of solitude, grandeur, and spiritual contemplation. His compositions reflected this ethos, mirroring the emotional depth found in his paintings. Notably, Blake's work aligns with the emerging Pre-Raphaelite movement, sharing its commitment to idealized beauty and a rejection of academic conventions. The influence of Caspar David Friedrich—whose monumental landscapes conveyed profound psychological resonance—is evident in Blake’s compositions, particularly his depictions of misty mountains and brooding skies.
Blake produced approximately 157 paintings during his lifetime, predominantly focused on Scottish Highland scenes. These canvases are renowned for their atmospheric perspective, subtle tonal gradations, and masterful rendering of texture—capturing the rugged beauty of heather-covered hillsides and turbulent lochs with breathtaking accuracy. Among his most celebrated works include “The Shepherd’s Crook,” “Ben Nevis” and “Glen Coe,” each embodying Blake's signature style and conveying a powerful sense of Romantic grandeur. These paintings are held in collections across Britain and internationally, cementing Blake’s place as one of the foremost landscape painters of his era.
Benjamin Blake died in London on August 18th, 1830, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire admiration for its artistic integrity and emotional depth. His paintings stand as testament to the Romantic spirit—a yearning for communion with nature and an exploration of profound psychological themes. Blake’s contribution to British art history is undeniable; he championed a uniquely expressive style that anticipated many of the innovations characteristic of subsequent generations of painters, securing his place among the giants of Victorian landscape painting. His enduring influence can be seen in the works of artists who followed him, demonstrating the lasting impact of his artistic vision.
wikioo.org/en/art/download/benjamin-blake-a-hanging-hare-9CVUC2-en/
Look closely
A Hanging Hare — Benjamin Blake
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"A Hanging Hare" belongs to the Traditional Wildlife Art movement, and its creator worked in the Early-Modern era.
The copyright status of "A Hanging Hare" - in the public domain - its copyright has expired - follows from the artist's death in 1830.
The color composition of "A Hanging Hare" by Benjamin Blake combines a serene contrast with a strong color unity harmony.