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ID #SA1165164
FOR SALE
£4,950
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Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
for sale €5,792     $6,287
£4,950
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2021
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    Source the historic in 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th century fine arts, painting, sculptures & collectibles
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Id #SA1165164
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Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

19th century
Description

Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

English School, 19th Century – in the Style of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885)

Subject & Medium

This rare 19th-century English School oil on panel depicts an electrifying and unusual subject: a bear, cornered and fighting for survival against a ferocious pack of hounds.

Where stag and fox hunts dominated Victorian sporting art, the spectacle of a bear fight was almost never attempted. The composition recalls Flemish masters such as Paul de Vos and Abraham Hondius, yet carries the unmistakable muscularity of Richard Ansdell’s circle. The work reflects the Victorian fascination with the exotic, the dangerous, and the theatre of nature.

Composition & Technique

Design – The bear rises upright, a pillar of resistance, while the hounds swirl in diagonals of attack.

Colour – Earthy ochres and browns dominate, offset by brilliant white flashes of fur; the subdued greens and greys of the forest serve only to intensify the central violence.

Brushwork – Vigorous strokes animate the hounds’ fur and motion; layered impasto conveys the bear’s mass; the softly worked sky lends contrast and depth.

Style – A synthesis of anatomical accuracy and dramatic staging, characteristic of Ansdell’s influence.

Compact in scale yet monumental in feeling, this cabinet painting distils high drama into intimate form.

Artist & Influence

Though unsigned, the panel is executed firmly in the manner of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885):

Leading Victorian animal and sporting painter.

Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1840; elected Academician in 1870.

Rivalled Landseer, but emphasised raw vitality over sentiment.

Renowned for hounds, deer, and predator-prey struggles rendered with muscular force.

The work shows how Ansdell’s legacy shaped provincial artists eager to meet demand for animalier spectacle.

Frame & Display ???

Frame: Larson-Juhl “Imperial” reverse-profile gold-leaf moulding.

Glazing: AR70 museum-grade anti-reflective glass (70% UV blocking).

Ready to hang, offering both grandeur and protection.

Dimensions

Frame: 29.5 cm (h) × 34 cm (w) × 4.5 cm (d)

Provenance ??

English School, 19th century.

Framer’s label verso: A. & E. Beer, Southampton.

Local Hampshire/Southampton ownership.

Consigned to a Dorset auction house.

Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.

Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Significance ??

Rarity – Bear-hunting imagery is almost unknown in English School painting.

Cultural Importance – A vivid expression of Victorian interest in the feral and exotic.

Collector’s Value – Blends historical resonance, theatrical energy, and cabinet-scale intimacy.

Condition Report ??

Panel: Stable.

Paint: Craquelure throughout; small losses on raised details; slight rubbing at dogs’ muzzles.

Varnish: Warm, aged, uneven gloss; professional cleaning could heighten colour.

Frame: New, pristine condition.

Overall: Fair to good, with authentic patina and strong visual impact.

Why Collect It ??

? Rare and dramatic subject seldom attempted in Victorian Britain.

? Combines Flemish influence with Ansdell-style vitality.

? Provenance with museum exhibition and strong presentation.

? Newly framed to museum standards with protective glazing.

Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat offers collectors a rare chance to own a Victorian sporting subject that unites raw power, historical depth, and enduring spectacle.

?? Professionally packaged, insured worldwide delivery available.

Physical Dimensions
Height
29.5cm (11.61")
Width
34cm (13.39")
Depth
4.5cm (1.77")
Declaration

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Antique Sporting Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1165164
Dealers Internal Reference
721
Dealers Notes

Delivery shipping information

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD ship worldwide, using fully insured and online tracked delivery services like DHL, DPD, Parcelforce or Fedex also the British Shop. We offer Free national Delivery to England mainland, Wales mainland & Scottish lowland mainland areas only.

We offer Free UK mainland delivery only, international shipping to USA, Canada, Europe. All other countries rest of the world please get in touch for a shipping quote.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art & Antique pieces which we sell.

We bespoke pack & wrap extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in great as described condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items which can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approximate. 2-5 working days for the United Kingdom mainland & International delivery between 5-14 working days.

Returns Policy

We offer a 14-day money-back refund policy

(excluding the cost of Postage & Packaging costs & any duties, taxes customs charges paid on buyers behalf or buy the buyer direct ).

CONTACT US:

Please feel free to call us.

We have a friendly & professional team on hand who are here to help you with any queries you may have.

Tel: 07494763382

Outside the UK:

Phone or text: 0044 7494763382

PAYMENT:

Our primary payment method is by (BACS) & International bank wire transfer, we can email you an invoice with our banking details upon request. We no longer accept any Online Card or in person card payments due to payment providers charging us and not returning the processing transaction fee even if an order is fraudulent, cancelled or returned. All Item(s) will need to be settled by bank transfer only. We will email you a proforma invoice with our bank details.

Customs Payment & Brexit

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD operates on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis which means that the International buyer is responsible for any import duties, taxes & customs clearance charges and any other customs charges which may be necessary to release an order from international customs.

Following the UK leaving the EU on 1st January 2021 (BREXIT) there have been some changes to customs & duty charges for EU customers. Tax and import duty varies from country to country so we recommend you check with your local tax office to see if any fees will be payable.

If the customer refuses to pay any duty and customs charges and the parcel is returned to sender all shipping charges will be deducted from any refund.

Description
Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

English School, 19th Century – in the Style of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885)

Subject & Medium

“
This rare 19th-century English School oil on panel depicts an electrifying and unusual subject: a bear, cornered and fighting for survival against a ferocious pack of hounds.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
fig 1. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 1. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Where stag and fox hunts dominated Victorian sporting art, the spectacle of a bear fight was almost never attempted. The composition recalls Flemish masters such as Paul de Vos and Abraham Hondius, yet carries the unmistakable muscularity of Richard Ansdell’s circle. The work reflects the Victorian fascination with the exotic, the dangerous, and the theatre of nature.

fig 2. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 2. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Composition & Technique

Design – The bear rises upright, a pillar of resistance, while the hounds swirl in diagonals of attack.

Colour – Earthy ochres and browns dominate, offset by brilliant white flashes of fur; the subdued greens and greys of the forest serve only to intensify the central violence.

fig 3. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 3. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Brushwork – Vigorous strokes animate the hounds’ fur and motion; layered impasto conveys the bear’s mass; the softly worked sky lends contrast and depth.

Style – A synthesis of anatomical accuracy and dramatic staging, characteristic of Ansdell’s influence.

fig 4. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 4. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Compact in scale yet monumental in feeling, this cabinet painting distils high drama into intimate form.

Artist & Influence

Though unsigned, the panel is executed firmly in the manner of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885):

fig 5. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 5. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Leading Victorian animal and sporting painter.

Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1840; elected Academician in 1870.

Rivalled Landseer, but emphasised raw vitality over sentiment.

Renowned for hounds, deer, and predator-prey struggles rendered with muscular force.

fig 6. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 6. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

The work shows how Ansdell’s legacy shaped provincial artists eager to meet demand for animalier spectacle.

Frame & Display ???

Frame: Larson-Juhl “Imperial” reverse-profile gold-leaf moulding.

Glazing: AR70 museum-grade anti-reflective glass (70% UV blocking).

fig 7. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 7. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Ready to hang, offering both grandeur and protection.

Dimensions

Frame: 29.5 cm (h) × 34 cm (w) × 4.5 cm (d)

Provenance ??

English School, 19th century.

Framer’s label verso: A. & E. Beer, Southampton.

Local Hampshire/Southampton ownership.

fig 8. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 8. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Consigned to a Dorset auction house.

Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.

Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Significance ??

Rarity – Bear-hunting imagery is almost unknown in English School painting.

fig 9. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 9. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Cultural Importance – A vivid expression of Victorian interest in the feral and exotic.

Collector’s Value – Blends historical resonance, theatrical energy, and cabinet-scale intimacy.

Condition Report ??

fig 10. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 10. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Panel: Stable.

Paint: Craquelure throughout; small losses on raised details; slight rubbing at dogs’ muzzles.

Varnish: Warm, aged, uneven gloss; professional cleaning could heighten colour.

Frame: New, pristine condition.

fig 11. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 11. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Overall: Fair to good, with authentic patina and strong visual impact.

Why Collect It ??

? Rare and dramatic subject seldom attempted in Victorian Britain.

? Combines Flemish influence with Ansdell-style vitality.

fig 12. A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
fig 12. Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

? Provenance with museum exhibition and strong presentation.

? Newly framed to museum standards with protective glazing.

Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat offers collectors a rare chance to own a Victorian sporting subject that unites raw power, historical depth, and enduring spectacle.

?? Professionally packaged, insured worldwide delivery available.

Height
29.5cm (11.61")
Width
34cm (13.39")
Depth
4.5cm (1.77")
Date of Manufacture

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Antique Sporting Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1165164
Dealers Internal Ref
721
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2021

Source the historic in 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th century fine arts, painting, sculptures & collectibles

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd Profile Page

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A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
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Archive I A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.

Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”

Archive II A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View II
Archive III A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XII
Archive XIII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XIII
Archive XIV A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XIV
Archive XV A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XV
Archive XVI A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XVI
Archive XVII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XVII
Archive XVIII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XVIII
Archive XIX A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XIX
Archive XX A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XX
Archive XXI A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXI
Archive XXII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXII
Archive XXIII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXIII
Archive XXIV A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXIV
Archive XXV A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXV
Archive XXVI A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXVI
Archive XXVII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXVII
Archive XXVIII A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXVIII
Archive XXIX A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXIX
Archive XXX A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame. View XXX
Enlarged Archival View
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Telephone 07494 763 382
Location
71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom

By appointment
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/cheshireantiques
Verified Since Jan 2021
Items For Sale 247
Items Sold 218
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Verified Since Jan 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom, , By appointment
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/cheshireantiques
Verified
Jan 2021
For Sale
247
Sold
218
A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
Oil Painting 19th Century “Defiance at Bay: Bear and Hounds in Combat”
Ref: SA1165164
A 19th-century oil painting depicting a brown bear fighting hunting hounds set within a heavy ornate gold gilt frame.
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FAQs

Nineteenth-century sporting art focused on hunting, wildlife, and equestrian subjects, often depicting dramatic encounters between animals and hounds. These works reflected the periods interest in natural history, rural pursuits, and romanticised natural drama.

Artists typically used oil-based pigments applied to stretched linen canvas or wooden panels, which were then mounted in carved wooden frames finished with genuine gold leaf gilding.

Authentic paintings from this period usually exhibit natural craquelure across the paint surface, historic oxidisation on the canvas reverse, and age-appropriate wear on the original gilded frame mouldings.

A dramatic sporting scene works well as a central focal point above a mantelpiece or sideboard in a traditional study, library, or dark-toned living room, creating contrast against neutral contemporary walls.

Position the painting away from direct sunlight, dampness, and heat sources. Dust the surface gently using a soft, dry camel-hair brush, avoiding liquid cleaners or commercial polishes.
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