Mulready approached natural forms with disciplined, almost scientific attention, producing drawings that dissected their structure and character from multiple angles. While some studies served as preparation for finished paintings, these sketches of a tortoise seem instead to have been independent exercises in close observation. 'For the purpose of understanding all that he did, he made drawings from many points of view, almost of every object, with its details, that appears in his works. Trees, such as we see in the backgrounds, he drew branch, bark, bole and root, leaves even, singly sometimes, and whole boughs with wonderful depth and delicacy...He made life-size studies of doves in his latest completed picture, Mother and Child, although they are not quite an inch long and subordinate in position.' [1]

'When his drawings were sold in 1866, it was surprising to see the amount, variety and thoroughness of Mulready's study. Like Dyce, he appeared to have gathered twenty-fold the material that he was able to turn to account. There were studies in detail of vegetation and tree growth which would have done credit to Turner...' [2] Further examples of Mulready’s animal studies include drawings of rats, spaniels, doves, hens, geese, sheep, and lambs.