Antique 19th Century Oil Painting Cattle Pastoral Landscape

Original antique oil painting of cattle standing in a tranquil lakeside landscape, probably dating to the late 19th or very early 20th century. Painted in oils on board, the work retains its old carved wood frame and has considerable decorative appeal as a traditional country landscape.

The composition features a dense stand of trees dominating the left side of the scene and opening onto a broad expanse of calm water. Two cattle stand at the shoreline, their reflections visible in the water, while low hills and fields recede into the distance beneath a softly painted sky. Rocks, grasses and foliage complete the foreground.

There is considerable variation in the handling of the paint, from the relatively smooth treatment of the water and distant landscape to the more heavily worked foliage, where individual leaves, branches and highlights have been built up with small textured brushstrokes.

The painting is unsigned, at least as far as I have been able to determine. It is painted on board and remains in an old brown wood frame with carved decoration and dark inner moulding.

Measurements

Display area: 12 inches by 17 1/4 inches

Framed: 15 inches by 20 1/2 inches

Condition

Good antique condition overall, with age-related wear. There are scattered small chips and losses to the painted surface, including several more noticeable areas where the underlying ground or board is exposed. There is also fine cracking/craquelure to the paint, surface marks and general wear consistent with age. The frame looks good. The reverse has been covered with paper at a later date and fitted with hanging wire. Please refer closely to the photographs for condition.

With a bit of touch-up, this will make a very nice display piece, especially for a country decor. An attractive antique pastoral landscape with cattle, appealing depth and colour, with particularly nice detail in the trees and reflections on the water.