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

The Guardian - World News Human InterestNews ReportEN 1 min read 100% complete by Senay Boztas in The HagueJanuary 15, 2026 at 02:43 PM

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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.

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Human Interest

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Sensationalism

Factual

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Key Claims (4)

AI-Extracted

The Bull by Paulus Potter is one of the star paintings at the Mauritshuis.

factual100% confidence

Experts at the Mauritshuis believe Paulus Potter toned down The Bull.

factual — Mauritshuis experts90% confidence

The Bull's testicles were originally much larger.

factual — Mauritshuis conservators80% confidence

The artist halved the size of the bull's testicles to respect 17th-century sensibilities.

factual70% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Netherlands 40% The Bull ×260% The Hague ×270% Mauritshuis ×280% Paulus Potter ×390%

Keywords

the bull 100% paulus potter 90% testicles 90% mauritshuis 80% dutch painting 80% 17th-century sensibilities 70% art restoration 70% art conservators 60%