19th Century Sporting Painting — The Meet (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880 by Charles Faulkner

Details

Description

Victorian Sporting Painting — The Meet (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (Active c.1874–1900)
(This work is one of a … Read more Victorian Sporting Painting — The Meet (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (Active c.1874–1900)
(This work is one of a four-piece foxhunting series. The remaining three paintings are available separately. If you wish to acquire the complete set, please contact us.)
Subject & Medium ️
Executed in oil on board, this composition portrays The Meet—the ceremonial assembly of huntsmen and hounds at the outset of the day’s chase. Set in Berkeley Vale, Gloucestershire, the historic seat of the Berkeley Hunt, the scene distils the etiquette, poised energy, and anticipatory quiet that precede the momentum of the hunt.
The rigid board substrate allows Faulkner to achieve crisp linear definition, controlled modelling, and atmospheric precision—all characteristic of his late-Victorian sporting practice.
Composition & Technique ✨
Faulkner constructs a measured prelude: riders in traditional scarlet coats form an orderly cluster, some exchanging brief conversation, others adjusting tack. Further back, a compact group of hounds and whippers-in waits in alert stillness, their pale coats catching the cool morning light.
Winter hedgerows and bare trees are articulated in deep browns, muted umbers, and subdued greens, anchoring the late-season topography of Berkeley Vale. Above, an expansive overcast sky unfolds in short, textured strokes of cool greys and silvery blues, adding tonal gravity and meteorological movement.
Key technical handling includes:
Fine, controlled strokes for equine musculature and hunting attire
Short, rhythmic marks energising the clouded sky
Layered impasto for reflective highlights on coats and tack
Quick, lively touches delineating the hounds
Soft scumbling and glazing integrating hedgerows and mid-distance
The result is a harmonised, narrative-rich study of the hunt’s ceremonial opening.
About the Artist — Charles Faulkner ‍
Faulkner is recognised for his contributions to Victorian sporting art, particularly foxhunting and equestrian subjects. His work is valued for:
Accurate, sympathetic treatment of horses and hounds
Strong narrative rhythm and atmospheric coherence
Faithful depiction of hunt etiquette, costume, and tradition
His paintings remain highly collectible within the canon of 19th-century British sporting art.
Signature ✍️
Signed “C. Faulkner” lower right.
Framing ️✨
Recently reframed in a decorative Larson-Juhl moulding and fitted with AR70 low-reflection, UV-protective glass. This glazing significantly improves clarity, mitigates glare, protects against fading, and enhances tonal balance—bringing the work to museum-display standard.
Framed Dimensions:
✅ 41 cm (W) × 26.5 cm (H) × 4 cm (D)
A versatile, refined format ideal for libraries, studies, hallways, and gallery walls.
Provenance ️
• Gloucestershire Art & Antiques Dealer
• Harriet Wynter, Interior Decorations & Antiques, Brighton
• Private Collection
• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
• Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire (2025)

Why It Stands Out ❤️
✅ Rare depiction of the historic Berkeley Hunt
✅ A detailed, characterful Victorian equestrian narrative
✅ Balanced palette of warm scarlets against cool greys and earth tones
✅ Refined draughtsmanship and authenticated brushwork
✅ Exhibited, well-documented provenance
✅ Enhanced with Larson-Juhl framing + AR70 museum glazing See less