Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1860s.
Standing quietly within the picturesque scenery of the family estate, a girl and her beloved horse. She knows it well, probably feeding it on occasion and visiting the stables with her mother.
The horse looks curiously towards us.
At times, charming equestrian portraits, such as this, are dismissed as the work of an amateur. But, in fact, there were numerous experienced professionals working in this manner throughout the 19th century. Often commissioned by the gentleman of the house, portraits of children and animals were particularly popular with the landed gentry and a topic of much debate.
To reach the point of completion, an artist would correspond frequently by letter, occasionally meeting to discuss their ideas and talk through sketches. The finished works were then generally completed in the studio following studies from nature.
The very fact the painting still survives is a testament to its importance for the family in question and it undoubtedly once hung in a splendid country house.
Held within a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28” x 22” / 72cm x 56cm
Year of creation: c. 1860
Condition: Artwork presents well. Canvas relined. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1860s.
Exquisite antique paintings that capture the imagination.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Brave Fine Art Profile Page
19th-century English School, Portrait of a Chestnut Horse & Girl - Antique Oil Painting
