‘Bigger and lower’: bull in Dutch painting once had much larger testicles

Experts at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands, have discovered that Paulus Potter's famous 17th-century painting, "The Bull," originally depicted the bull with significantly larger testicles. During a restoration, conservators found evidence suggesting Potter himself reduced the size of the bull's genitalia. The alteration was likely made to align with the more conservative sensibilities of the 17th century. "The Bull," a pastoral scene featuring animals and a farmer, is a prominent artwork in the Mauritshuis collection. The discovery reveals a hidden aspect of the painting's history and Potter's artistic choices.