Victorian Prized Shorthorn Bull Oil Painting British School C1890

Victorian Prized Shorthorn Bull Oil Painting British School c1890

A characterful late Victorian oil painting depicting a prized brown and white Shorthorn bull standing in full profile within an open pastoral landscape.

British School, in the manner of William Ward, circa 1890. Oil on canvas.

The substantial animal dominates the composition, its warm russet, chestnut, cream and white colouring contrasting with green pasture and a softly atmospheric sky. A mature tree frames the left side.

The work belongs to the British tradition of livestock portraiture, in which important cattle were recorded for breeders, agriculturalists and estate owners. Such paintings could commemorate valuable breeding stock and agricultural achievement while recording the appearance and conformation of an individual animal.

In the Manner of William Ward

The painting is unsigned and is catalogued as British School, in the manner of William Ward.

This is a qualified stylistic attribution. The work is not presented as a signed or authenticated painting by William Ward.

Golding Young and Mawer independently catalogued the painting as 19th Century British School.

Bourgeois Aine Paris

The reverse retains an important historic registered trade mark.

Detailed research identifies the surviving B in lozenge device with very high confidence as associated with Bourgeois Aine, Paris, an important French supplier of professional artists materials.

The stretcher is additionally marked 46 x 38 cm, corresponding to the traditional French F8 standard canvas format.

An 1888 Bourgeois Aine standard format list records F8 as 46 x 38 cm.

The Bourgeois mark, F8 dimensions, commercially prepared fine weave canvas and keyed wooden stretcher provide useful physical evidence compatible with later 19th century manufacture.

The support evidence is consistent with the circa 1890 dating but does not independently establish an exact year.

Auction Provenance

Golding Young and Mawer, Lincoln Fine Art Sale, 5 February 2025, Lot 119.

The auction house catalogued the work as:

19thC British School. Short horn bull in landscape, oil on canvas.

The painting was subsequently acquired from this sale by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Private Loan and Exhibition History

Privately loaned and exhibited with the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, within a display relating to British rural and agricultural heritage.

The painting remained privately owned throughout the loan and exhibition period.

Professional Conservation

Professionally conserved following assessment by Vanessa Andrew M.A., Fine Art Conservator.

Her November 2025 report records oil on commercially prepared fine weave canvas supported upon a five member wooden stretcher.

Conservation addressed areas of unstable paint, surface dirt, historic losses and previous retouching while preserving appropriate historic character.

Provenance

Private collection.

Golding Young and Mawer, Lincoln Fine Art Sale, 5 February 2025, Lot 119.

Acquired from the above sale.

Thereafter Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Dimensions

Framed approximately 45 cm high x 52 cm wide x 3 cm deep.

Canvas approximately 46 x 38 cm.

Frame and Condition

Presented in a later decorative gilt frame with age related rubbing, small chips, marks and minor decorative losses.

The painting has been professionally conserved and presents well. Historic craquelure, age related surface texture and professional retouching remain visible.

Ready to hang.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. The painting will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD, recording the catalogue details, attribution and stated provenance.

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