David Shepherd British, 1931-2017

Description

David Shepherd returned to the tiger throughout his career, calling it his favourite animal to encounter in the wild for its sheer, unforgettable power. Painted in 1988, Inquisitive Tiger in the Forest captures a brief, electric moment as a female Bengal tiger steps from the shadows. With precise control, Shepherd depicts her taut posture—tail twitching, ears lifted, eyes sharply alert—heightening the sense of tension and immediacy. His dramatic use of light, echoing the tradition of chiaroscuro, enhances the creature’s sculptural presence as she moves into a shaft of sun.