Advancements in animal husbandry in the late 18th century by pioneers such as Robert Bakewell (1725-1795) led to an increased interest in pedigree cattle and sheep. As a result, there was a marked rise in the number of livestock paintings produced in that period. Foremost amongst these animal painters was George Garrard, whose book ‘Descriptions of the Different Varieties of Oxen Common in the British Isles’ provided a comprehensive overview of cattle breeds. Garrard’s passion for the subject is evident in this collection of cattle studies, which provide a unique insight into the artist’s work on the book. The project was executed under the patronage of the Board of Agriculture, and it is evident that Garrard’s drawings have a higher standard of anatomical accuracy than other livestock paintings produced in the 18^th century, where the proportions of cattle were exaggerated in order to convey the advantages of particular breeds or prize livestock. This collection of works depicts a variety of different breeds of longhorn and shorthorn cattle, many of which were from Woburn Abbey and Petworth House. George, 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) at Petworth House, Sussex and Francis, 5th Duke of Bedford (1765-1802) at Woburn Abbey were both notable patrons of Garrard’s, and their interest in having their livestock depicted by him is indicative of the connections between landowners, artists and livestock which led to so many commissions in the late 18th century.