Cock, Hen and Sparrows
- Artist: Francis Barlow
- Date: 1680
- Medium: Graphite, ink and watercolour on paper
- Dimensions: support: 132 x 175 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the "Cock, Hen and Sparrows" by Francis Barlow, painted in 1680. In under a square foot of paper (about 13 × 18 cm) Barlow packs a lively scene of rural life. A proud cock stands beside a hen, while sparrows dart around the corner of a simple cottage roof. The work is rendered in graphite, ink and watercolour, a medium that lets him blend delicate pencil lines with soft washes—an early example of naturalistic illustration.
Barlow was a naturalist painter of the mid‑17th century, known for his careful studies of animals and the built environment. This drawing shows his keen eye for detail: the feather textures, the shadow of the roof, and the subtle play of light across the birds’ plumage.
The piece entered the public collection as part of the Oppé Collection in 1997, thanks to support from the National Lottery. It has since appeared in exhibitions that highlight the period’s bird studies, reminding us that even in a small, humble panel, 17th‑century artists captured the rhythm of everyday country life with precision and charm.
See it in person
Cock, Hen and Sparrows is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
