Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

19th century English Folk Art School
19th Century English Folk Art portrait of a Bull in Maple frame

Circa 1830

About the Item

Anonymous (English School) Prize Bull Portrait, mid-19th century Oil on canvas, housed in a figured maple frame This striking and endearing portrait of a prize bull stands as a testament to the charm and sincerity of 19th-century English folk art. Rendered with meticulous care and a touch of rustic naivety, the bull is depicted in profile against a simple, darkened background, allowing every detail of its distinctive coat, muscular form, and gentle expression to command attention. During the 19th century, livestock portraiture became a celebrated tradition in rural Britain, particularly among farmers and breeders eager to commemorate prized animals. These paintings served both as status symbols and as visual records of agricultural achievement at a time when livestock competitions and fairs were central to community life. While academic artists idealized their subjects, folk painters like this anonymous hand focused on honest representation—capturing the individuality of the animal with a direct, unembellished style. The stylized treatment of the bull’s patterned hide and the flattened perspective are hallmarks of vernacular art, where charm often outweighs strict realism. The original maple frame, with its warm, burled grain, complements the earthy dignity of the subject, enhancing the painting’s rural authenticity. This work is more than a portrait of livestock—it is a cultural artifact, reflecting a period when the prosperity of the land and its animals were sources of deep personal pride and communal identity. As is normal with Folk art this piece is not signed
  • Creator:
    19th century English Folk Art School (English)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1830
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 39 in (99.06 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    the painting was restored about 50 years ago.
  • Gallery Location:
    Woodbury, CT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU507316205482

More From This Seller

View All
19th century Irish or English Antique portrait of two dogs, waterdogs
Located in Woodbury, CT
Outstanding portrait of two dogs. Sam Spode was an Irish painter of horse and dog portraits from the late 18th century through the early 19th century. His dog portraits are very rar...
Category

1830s Folk Art Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th century English portrait of a Collie Dog seated in an Interior
Located in Woodbury, CT
This charming portrait of a Collie dog by Frederick French, painted circa 1896, captures the loyal and calm nature of one of the most beloved breeds. French's delicate attention to d...
Category

1890s Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

20th century English, fun oil on canvas portrait of a running or jumping Hare
Located in Woodbury, CT
A well-painted and fun picture of a feeding pig. Oils on canvas The artist painted animal subjects like this with a great deal of skill, giving his animals life and character. He ...
Category

2010s Impressionist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

29th century English, Portrait od a seated Siamese Cat
Located in Woodbury, CT
J. Foley (British, 20th Century) Siamese Cat Oil on canvas Signed on the reverse This elegant portrait captures the distinctive grace and poise of the Siamese cat, renowned for its ...
Category

1970s Realist Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century English Antique Bay Hunter horse in a stable, called Business
By Henry Calvert
Located in Woodbury, CT
Henry Calvert was an animal painter, particularly of the sporting variety and best known for his depictions of horses, hunting scenes and equestrian hunting portraits...
Category

1840s Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

20th century English portrait of two Labrador Retriever dogs Sadie & Sophie
Located in Woodbury, CT
20th-century English portrait of two Labrador Retriever dogs Sadie & Sophie Owning a painting of two English Labrador Retriever dogs by D.J. Holdswor...
Category

1980s Modern Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

You May Also Like

Black Panther l
By Y.m.Lo
Located in East Hampton, NY
Black Panther Oil Painting There are more super hero painting Comes ROLLED in a tube Needs framing NY Artist Y.M. Lo oil painting. contemporary art in ...
Category

2010s Outsider Art Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Black Panther l
$480 Sale Price
20% Off
Wonder Woman
By Y.m.Lo
Located in East Hampton, NY
Faceless Wonder Woman Female POWER Oil Painting There are more super hero painting Comes ROLLED in a tube Needs framing NY Artist Y.M. Lo oil painting. ...
Category

2010s Outsider Art Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Birds Moreno Pincas Contemporary art oil painting portrait animal human comedy
By Moreno Pincas
Located in Paris, FR
Moreno PINCAS depicts life. Noisy, agitated. With a critical and tender eye, he sketches existence as if it were a play and each time tells us a new story made up of meetings and liv...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The king's dwarf Moreno Pincas Contemporary art oil painting portrait animal
By Moreno Pincas
Located in Paris, FR
Moreno PINCAS depicts life. Noisy, agitated. With a critical and tender eye, he sketches existence as if it were a play and each time tells us a new story made up of meetings and liv...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Monkey with a Cigarette I - Contemporary Figurative Animals Oil Painting
By Tomasz Bielak
Located in Salzburg, AT
The artist Tomasz Bielak loves animals, but especially monkeys. He often portrays her. Old photos serve as templates. Tomasz Bielak born in Lublin in 1967. He graduated of The Acade...
Category

2010s Contemporary Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Russian cuirassiers colonel
By Hippolyte Lecomte
Located in BELEYMAS, FR
Hippolyte LECOMTE (Puiseaux, 1781 – Paris, 1857) Colonel of Russian cuirassiers Oil on canvas H. 33 cm; W. 24 cm Signed and dated at the bottom towards the center 1817 Exhibition: S...
Category

1810s French School Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Recently Viewed

View All