Victorian Oil Painting
“Prized Shorthorn Bull” – British School, in the Manner of William Ward
Subject & Medium
Title: Prized Shorthorn Bull – British School, in the manner of William Ward
A charming 19th-century / Victorian oil on canvas country animal portrait of a brown-and-white prized Shorthorn bull, shown in full left profile in an open green field beneath a softly overcast sky. A tall tree at the upper left balances the composition and frames the animal, giving the picture a classic rural feel.
Composition & Technique
The bull’s powerful, muscular form is described with warm, earthy pigments – rich russet browns, creamy whites and chestnut tones – set against green pasture and a blue-grey sky. Fine, precise brushwork defines the distinctive coat markings, horns and sturdy head, while broader, more painterly strokes describe the foreground, tree and sky, creating a rustic, atmospheric effect.
The overall style blends realism with countryside charm: not hyper-
...detailed, but focused on capturing the bull’s presence, conformation and character. The work sits firmly in the British provincial livestock portrait tradition, often described as “primitive” or “naļve” in style.
Attribution – In the Manner of William Ward
The painting is unsigned, but the subject, handling and format closely relate to works in the manner of William Ward and to the wider circle of British livestock and animal painters who recorded prize cattle, horses and sheep for breeders and landowners. While not offered as a signed Ward, it clearly belongs to that broader British School of agricultural and livestock portraiture, making it an appealing piece for collectors of rural and farming art.
Provenance & Exhibition
Painted on a French 8F (46 × 38 cm) trade canvas and stretcher, it bears a “Marque Déposée” B-in-lozenge maker’s label and stamp on the verso, consistent with late 19th-century manufacture.
Provenance includes:
Private collection
Golding Young & Mawer, notable regional auctioneers
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, in a display celebrating British rural and agricultural heritage
Professional Conservation & Condition
The painting has recently undergone professional conservation by a museum-based fine art conservator whose studio is based at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum. Treatment included:
Consolidation of lifting and raised paint
Careful removal of surface dirt, spots, marks and fibres
Removal of discoloured or unsympathetic overpaint
Filling of paint losses
Application of a new varnish
Sensitive retouching of losses
Final protective varnish layer
The surface now reads clean and coherent, with the image much improved while retaining its honest antique character. Historic craquelure, age-related texture and some old minor imperfections remain visible, exactly as one would expect from a genuine 19th-century work. Overall, the picture is structurally sound, professionally conserved and ready to hang.
Framed Dimensions
Height: 45 cm
Width: 52 cm
Depth: 3 cm
Frame
Presented in a later decorative gilt frame with moulded ornament and a classic Victorian country-house look. The gilding shows age-related wear, small chips, rubbing and minor losses to the high points, together with some surface dust in the crevices – all contributing to its period charm. The frame is structurally sound, suits the picture well, and is fitted with a hanging cord so it is ready to go straight on the wall.
Historical Context & Collecting Interest – Shorthorn & Livestock Portraiture
The Shorthorn is one of the great British cattle breeds, developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries in the north of England and Scotland. Central to the story of “improved” livestock during the Agricultural Revolution, it was prized for both beef and dairy
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.
Internal Reference: 755
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1181549
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 45cm (17.7inches)Width is 52cm (20.5inches)Depth is 3cm (1.2inches)
Your credit card is processed securely by Stripe Inc. 
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.