🐂Victorian British Oil Painting Prized Farm Bull Portrait C1898 After Albertus Verhoesen

🐂 Victorian British Oil Painting “Prized Farm Bull” Portrait C1898 After Albertus Verhoesen 

🖌 Subject & Medium

• Title & Subject: This stunning late 19th-century oil painting, titled “Prized Farm Bull”, presents a captivating close-up portrait of a magnificent farm bull. Painted in the style of renowned Dutch animal painter Albertus Verhoesen (1806–1881), the work focuses entirely on the bull’s proud head, face, and horns, capturing both the strength and the personality of this noble farm animal.

• Medium: Oil on canvas, prized for its richness, depth, and the artist’s ability to layer fine textures and subtle details.

🎨 Composition & Technique

The composition places the viewer in an intimate encounter with the bull, using a close-up head-and-shoulder framingthat commands attention. Set against a soft, atmospheric background of muted greens, pale yellows, and warm ochres, the bull emerges as the central and dominant figure.

The artist’s brushstrokes are varied and thoughtful:

• Smooth blending shapes the contours of the face, muscles, and snout.

• Fine, delicate strokes describe the bull’s curly forehead fur, ears, and the subtle transition of light across the coat.

• Expressive, confident lines highlight the curves and sheen of the long, curved horns, giving them a lifelike, tactile presence.

The color palette ranges from creamy whites and pale beiges on the bull’s hide to rich, dark browns and deep blacks on the nose, mouth, and eyes. Warm golden tones glow through the underpainting, adding warmth and realism to the piece. The bull’s direct, slightly open-mouthed expression adds dynamism, making the viewer feel as though the animal is alive and about to move or speak — a hallmark of Victorian animal portraiture, which aimed to capture not only anatomy but spirit and individuality.

✍️ Signed

Signed indistinctly by British artist E. Wood in the lower corner, dated 1898. While inspired by Albertus Verhoesen’s famous animal scenes, this is an original period work, not a copy or print.

👨🎨 About the Artist (Albertus Verhoesen)

Albertus Verhoesen (1806–1881) was a celebrated Dutch painter known for his exquisite depictions of farm animals, including cattle, bulls, sheep, and goats. His works are widely collected and have reached auction prices up to $25,040 USD at Christie’s Amsterdam. Though this painting is by British artist E. Wood, it honors the fine realism and country charm of Verhoesen’s style.

🖼 Frame Details

Housed in its original traditional gilt gesso frame, the painting is surrounded by beautiful Victorian decorative details. The back bears an old frame maker’s label and an auction provenance label, adding further authenticity. A secure hanging hook is attached on the back for immediate display.

📏 Size (Including Frame)

• Height: 42 cm

• Width: 52 cm

• Depth (Frame Thickness): 4 cm

📜 Provenance

Acquired from a fine art antiques auction, with provenance label verso. This work is now part of a curated private collection.

❤️ Why You’ll Love It

✅ A powerful close-up animal portrait that draws attention and admiration.
✅ Perfect for collectors of Victorian-era art, animal portraits, or rural farm life themes.
✅ Created in the respected style of Albertus Verhoesen, adding collectible charm and historical flair.
✅ Housed in its original period frame, enhancing its authenticity and decorative value.
✅ A timeless statement piece and conversation starter — ideal for homes, offices, or art collections.

🔍 Condition Report

• Canvas: Relined, revarnished, with selective touch-ups. A visible horizontal line near the top where the back of the frame presses against the canvas. Minor paint loss near one of the bull’s eyes.

• Frame: Original gilt frame showing expected wear, scuffs, minor chips, and small losses consistent with its vintage age.

• Display-Ready: Comes with a strong hanging hook for easy wall placement.

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available
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🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

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