After Durer

In a brand-new body of work the wildlife British painter, Robert Oxley, takes inspiration from iconic 20th century paintings. Oxley’s interpretation sits at an experimental mood and while the genre is distinct from his famous big cats’ artworks, the painter’s style shines through in the kaleidoscopic colour palette and expressive brushwork.

Fascinated with the artwork since the first time he saw it as a child in a postcard in the Natural History Museum, Oxley’s appreciation for Durer’s works only grew in adulthood.

Produced in 1515, Albrecht Durer’s Rhino artwork was based on a written description of a rhino that arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, becoming the defining image of a rhino for centuries to follow and a symbol for the Renaissance fascination with discovery, curiosity, and artistic innovation. The inspiration for Oxley came from the extraordinary depiction of a ‘never-seen-before animal’ purely based on a description. Durer’s ability to use his artistic imagination with very limited scientific knowledge resulted in a realistic and almost mythical representation of the reptilian, a perfect blend of fact and fantasy.

Find out more about Robert Oxley here or alternatively, shop more art here.