Shearing the Rams

Why it's great

Men in an Australian woolshed shear sheep, in a busy scene of work, with sunlight streaming through the roof. Tom Roberts painted this in 1890 and it is probably the most famous Australian painting. It shows the hard but proud life of the sheep farms. It's an icon of Australian life.

👀 Look closer!

Look at the sunlight coming through the roof. What are the workers doing?

Where to see it

📍 National Gallery of VictoriaMelbourne, Australia

Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 6,065 × 4,034 px · 24.5 megapixels · prints up to about 20 × 13 inches at 300 dpi File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Tom Roberts

1856–1931 · born in Dorchester · died in Kallista

Tom Roberts was born in England and moved to Australia as a teenager. He was one of the leaders of the Heidelberg School, and he painted some of the most famous pictures of Australian life, including 'Shearing the Rams'. He died in 1931.