What characterises 19th-century Victorian genre paintings?

Victorian genre paintings typically depict narrative scenes of everyday domestic life, focusing on family interactions, rustic interiors, and sentimental social themes popular in 19th-century Britain.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century oil portraiture?

Artists primarily used oil paints composed of natural pigments mixed with drying oils, executed on stretched linen canvas or wooden panels, often set within moulded gesso and giltwood frames.

How can one identify authentic period oil paintings from this era?

Authentic period oil paintings exhibit natural craquelure across the paint layer, genuine oxidisation on the canvas reverse, period-correct stretcher construction, and age-consistent wear on the giltwood frame.

How can a Victorian genre painting be styled in a modern interior?

Hanging a framed historical oil painting above a clean-lined console table or incorporating it into an eclectic gallery wall creates an engaging dialogue between traditional narrative artwork and contemporary aesthetics.

How should an antique oil painting on canvas be preserved?

Display the painting away from direct sunlight, high humidity, and extreme heat sources, dusting the frame gently with a soft dry brush while avoiding liquid cleaners on the painted surface.

for sale €1,112 $1,207

£950

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Brown Canvas Oil Artwork

Id #SA1186452

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After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

Name: After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1186452
Price: 950 GBP
Availability: InStock

1940 - 1960

For Sale by Mansion House Antiques & Fine Art

Description

This is a magnificent large oil on canvas painting in the 19th century manner depicting an interior genre family scene.

The parents of two young children are preparing one of the girls hair into a pony tail whilst the other child looks on with interest.

The colour and detail is amazing and the life like finish obtained by the artist is very professional and has successfully portrayed a warm and charming atmosphere in his work.

The natural light is evident in the painting of the faces of each individual family member.

AFTER Artist

William Henry Knight (26 September 1823 – 31 July 1863) was an English portrait and genre painter.

Life and work

Knight was born in Newbury, Berkshire where his father, John Knight, was a schoolmaster.

He was to become a solicitor, but gave up his law studies after two of his paintings were accepted by the annual exhibition of the Society of British Artists. He moved to London in 1855, taking lodgings in Kennington Road, Lambeth, and supporting himself by drawing crayon portraits while studying in the British Museum and in the schools of the Royal Academy.

Following in the footsteps of William Mulready,he became a genre painter, his street scenes and interior scenes often showing children at play. His first contribution to the Royal Academy exhibition was Boys playing draughts in 1846; from that year until 1862 he was a constant exhibitor there. He also showed many pictures at the British Institution.

Among his best works were: ''''A Christmas party preparing for blind man''''s buff'''' (1850); ''''Time for play'''', ''''Boys snowballing'''' (1853); ''''The broken window'''' (1855 – engraved for the August 1865 edition of The Art Journal); ''''The village school'''' (1857); ''''Knuckle down'''' (1858); ''''The lost change'''' (1859); Hide and seek (1860);

The game of marbles, ''''An unexpected trump'''' (1861); ''''Rivals to Blondin''''and ''''The counterfeit coin'''' (1862). Many engravings were made from his works. In his 1855 Academy notes, John Ruskin wrote about The broken window: ''''This picture does not catch the eye at a distance, but, on looking close, there will be found exquisite and careful painting in it.''''.

Knight died on 31 July 1863 aged 39, leaving a widow and six children

FRAME

Mounted within this magnificent heavy duty antique style ornate swept gilt frame which greatly enhances the portrait.

The frame is an expensive frame costing £300.

Such a magnificent image that will grace any wall, room, study, library, home and office.

CONDITION

Very Good Order Throughout & Ready To Hang.

An outstanding large oil painting on canvas signed lower right corner.

FRAMED MEASUREMENTS

Height : 34 Inches ( 87 cm )

Width : 30 Inches ( 77 cm )

Depth 3 Inches ( 8 cm )

DELIVERY

UK Delivery Next Day Tracked £50

TELEPHONE: 07765 856171

Ref : CLC/066/RBC

Physical Dimensions

Height

87cm (34.25")

Width

77cm (30.31")

Depth

8cm (3.15")

Declaration

Mansion House Antiques & Fine Art has dated this Victorian Family Oil Painting to the 1960s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1186452

Dealers Internal Reference

CLC/066/RBC

Dealers Notes

Payments are accepted by Bank Transfer & by Debit / Credit Cards Via the BUY NOW Payment Link Tab shown below each items description.

PAY-PAL Account Holders are welcome. CHEQUES Drawn from UK banks.

Description

This is a magnificent large oil on canvas painting in the 19th century manner depicting an interior genre family scene.

“

The parents of two young children are preparing one of the girls hair into a pony tail whilst the other child looks on with interest.

Mansion House Antiques & Fine Art

fig 1. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 1. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

The colour and detail is amazing and the life like finish obtained by the artist is very professional and has successfully portrayed a warm and charming atmosphere in his work.

The natural light is evident in the painting of the faces of each individual family member.

fig 2. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 2. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

AFTER Artist

William Henry Knight (26 September 1823 – 31 July 1863) was an English portrait and genre painter.

Life and work

Knight was born in Newbury, Berkshire where his father, John Knight, was a schoolmaster.

fig 3. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 3. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

He was to become a solicitor, but gave up his law studies after two of his paintings were accepted by the annual exhibition of the Society of British Artists. He moved to London in 1855, taking lodgings in Kennington Road, Lambeth, and supporting himself by drawing crayon portraits while studying in the British Museum and in the schools of the Royal Academy.

fig 4. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 4. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

Following in the footsteps of William Mulready,he became a genre painter, his street scenes and interior scenes often showing children at play. His first contribution to the Royal Academy exhibition was Boys playing draughts in 1846; from that year until 1862 he was a constant exhibitor there. He also showed many pictures at the British Institution.

fig 5. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 5. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

Among his best works were: ''''A Christmas party preparing for blind man''''s buff'''' (1850); ''''Time for play'''', ''''Boys snowballing'''' (1853); ''''The broken window'''' (1855 – engraved for the August 1865 edition of The Art Journal); ''''The village school'''' (1857); ''''Knuckle down'''' (1858); ''''The lost change'''' (1859); Hide and seek (1860);

fig 6. A framed 19th-century style oil painting depicting a family interior scene featuring a mother, father, and two children beside a fireplace within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 6. After William Henry Knight Interior Family Scene 19th Manner Oil Portrait Painting

The game of marbles, ''''An unexpected trump'''' (1861); ''''Rivals to Blondin''''and ''''The counterfeit coin'''' (1862). Many engravings were made from his works. In his 1855 Academy notes, John Ruskin wrote about The broken window: ''''This picture does not catch the eye at a distance, but, on looking close, there will be found exquisite and careful painting in it.''''.