Landseer displayed his remarkable artistic skills at a very early age; when he was only twelve one of his paintings was exhibited at the Royal Academy. He excelled at painting animals, often bringing great drama, animation and wit to his portrayals. Landseer's enthusiasm for Scotland prompted annual visits from 1824 onwards, and he combined hunting expeditions with sketching trips. He was Queen Victoria's favourite artist and was honoured with a knighthood in 1850. His most famous highland sporting picture is The Monarch of the Glen.
A term used to refer to images of important or memorable episodes from literary, historical or religious sources. These works are often large-scale and include complex arrangements of figures and objects in a landscape or architectural setting. Historically, it was revered as the highest form of painting.