Attributed to Albert Bierstadt (American, 1830-1902), Tethered Ram, charcoal and white chalk on paper, [approximate dimensions - sight: 13" H x 20 1/2" W], signed lower right.

"This early drawing attributed to Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), Tethered Ram, executed in 1856 during his formative period in Düsseldorf, Germany, depicts a finely observed tethered ram on the hillside of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, with attention to anatomy, form, and atmosphere; very similar in execution to his "Study of an Ewe" drawing of the same period. Works from this stage of Bierstadt’s career—when he was still refining his skills before returning to America and embarking on his famed Western landscapes—are highly sought after."

"In my professional opinion as a historian of 19th-century American art, and based on my in-person examination in May 2025 as well as comparative study with early works from Albert Bierstadt’s Düsseldorf period, the drawing titled Tethered Ram (1856) is very likely an authentic early student work by Albert Bierstadt. This drawing is clearly a modified copy of Tethered Rams, Sir Edwin Landseer's 1839 painting now in the Victoria & Albert Museum. There was a widely circulated engraving after the Landseer work, and that was likely what Bierstadt used as his template. This is a scholarly opinion, not a formal authentication.

Sincerely,

Sarah Burns, Ph.D.
Professor of Art History Emeritus, Indiana University Bloomington"

Notes: This lot includes a dossier.

Sheet shows tiny water stains at left side, abrasions on the right, wear to edges and corners, minor paper loss. Framed: 21 3/4" H x 29 3/4" W. Ask Fine Arts Department for additional photos.