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Charles Towne
19th Century Shepherd with sheep and horse in a river mountain landscape

Circa 1830

$4,950
£3,724.42
€4,301.78
CA$6,995.64
A$7,591.34
CHF 4,022.74
MX$93,104.06
NOK 49,781.12
SEK 47,040.52
DKK 32,114.92

About the Item

This finely painted pastoral scene is attributed to Charles Towne, one of the leading animal and landscape painters of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The composition depicts a tranquil upland setting, where a sturdy white horse stands prominently in the foreground, accompanied by a small flock of sheep resting peacefully by a mountain stream. To the left, a figure in a red coat, possibly a shepherd or rustic musician, plays a fiddle, lending a lyrical and human touch to the rural idyll. The backdrop of rugged mountains and wooded hills recalls Towne’s familiarity with the landscapes of North Wales and the Lake District, regions where he frequently sketched and found inspiration. His works are distinguished by their meticulous attention to animal form and their harmonious balance of figures within the natural environment. Here, the horse is rendered with particular sensitivity—the modelling of its musculature and stance reflecting Towne’s close observation of animal anatomy, a skill honed through his career as a painter of livestock portraits. Although unsigned, the painting displays many of the hallmarks of Towne’s hand: the clarity of outline, the smooth finish, and the poised arrangement of animals against a dramatic yet serene landscape. Towne’s works were widely collected in his lifetime, admired for their combination of naturalism and romantic sentiment, and he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and the Liverpool Academy. Housed in a handsome period gilt frame, this pastoral composition represents a fine example of the British tradition of animal painting, marrying rustic charm with the enduring grandeur of the natural world.
  • Creator:
    Charles Towne (1753 - 1840)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1830
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    This painting is in good original condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Woodbury, CT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU507316925872

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