Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Henry Tate Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/briton-riviere-453" aria-label="More by Briton Riviere" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Briton Riviere</a>
Giants at Play
Presented by Sir Henry Tate 1894
actions: postures and motions
actions: processes and functions
adults
animals: mammals
architecture
dog - non-specific
industrial and crafts
labourer
looking / watching
man
pavement
people
reclining
townscapes / man-made features
work and occupations
<p>Riviere shows three labourers at rest, playing with a young bull-pup. The smallness of the dog serves to emphasise the size and great strength of the men. They are portrayed quite realistically in working clothes, their boots bearing the grime of their work. The feather and string game being played with the puppy may well be the first stage in the training that will prepare it for fighting and baiting. Riviere specialised in painting scenes with animals, often of a sentimental or humorous nature, which proved immensely popular with the Victorian public.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
4 February 2005 – 2 May 2005
2005-05-02
4 February 2005 – 2 May 2005
2005-05-02
2005-02-04
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2005-02-04
Joseph Beuys: Actions, Vitrines, Environments
Exhibition
Giants at Play
support: 838 × 1353 mm
frame: 1253 × 1779 × 107 mm
Presented by <a href="/search?gid=999999962" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Sir Henry Tate</a> 1894
<p>Riviere shows three labourers at rest, playing with a young bull-pup. The smallness of the dog serves to emphasise the size and great strength of the men. They are portrayed quite realistically in working clothes, their boots bearing the grime of their work. The feather and string game being played with the puppy may well be the first stage in the training that will prepare it for fighting and baiting. Riviere specialised in <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> scenes with animals, often of a sentimental or humorous nature, which proved immensely popular with the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/v/victorian" title="Glossary definition for 'Victorian'"><span>Victorian</span></a> public.</p>
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2004-08-31T00:00:00
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actions: postures and motions actions: processes and functions adults animals: mammals architecture dog - non-specific industrial and crafts labourer looking / watching man pavement people reclining townscapes / man-made features work and occupations