Sporting 19th Century Oil Painting View Halloo the Berkeley Hunt C1880 by Charles Faulkner

Details

Description

British 19th century Oil Painting — View Halloo (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (British, active 1874–1900)
(This work is … Read more British 19th century Oil Painting — View Halloo (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (British, active 1874–1900)
(This work is the second of a four-piece hunting series. The remaining three paintings are available individually; please message us if you wish to purchase the complete set.)
Subject & Medium
A finely rendered oil on board depicting the electrifying “View Halloo” moment in a traditional English foxhunt. Faulkner orchestrates riders, hounds, and the Gloucestershire landscape with characteristic Victorian precision, producing a dynamic and atmospheric sporting scene rooted firmly in late 19th-century fieldcraft.
Composition & Technique ✨
Faulkner organises the action with a decisive diagonal sweep that drives the eye across the chase:
Foreground:
Hounds painted with tight anatomical discipline, shown mid-stride as they spring into pursuit.
Middle Ground:
Scarlet-coated riders advance through pasture, hedgerows, and brush. One horse clears a jump, while another rider is dramatically unseated behind the foliage—an arresting narrative detail.
Background:
A misted Cotswold–Berkeley Vale recedes in blended, muted tones, establishing atmospheric depth and regional specificity.
Technical hallmarks:
Crisp figure delineation
Broad, modulated landscape handling
Subtle tonal gradation enhancing distance
Controlled highlights animating movement and musculature
The interplay of precision and painterly breadth delivers both clarity and energy—an exemplary Victorian sporting composition.

The Hunt Scene
This painting captures the exact instant the fox breaks cover:
A huntsman raises his whip, issuing the traditional “View Halloo!” call.
Hounds surge forward en masse, responding instinctively to the signal.
Riders pivot, leap, and rally with urgency as the chase accelerates.
The fox darts across the left side—small, yet central to the narrative tension.
Bare winter trees, rolling pasture, and distant hills firmly situate the event within the historic Berkeley Hunt territory of Gloucestershire.
A vivid and faithful record of late-Victorian sporting life.

About the Artist ✍️
Charles Faulkner (fl. 1874–1900) was a respected British sporting painter noted for:
Lively equine and canine motion
Authentic depictions of hunt attire, ritual, and fieldcraft
Atmospheric rural landscapes
Strong, narrative-driven compositions
His works remain highly sought after by collectors of equestrian, countryside, and Victorian sporting art.

Signature ️
Signed “Faulkner” lower left, consistent with his established period signature.

Framing ️
Presented in a newly fitted Rococo-style gilt frame with scrolling ornament and floral reliefs.
Enhanced with museum-quality AR70 glazing, providing:
Low reflection
UV protection
Superior clarity
Enhanced colour balance
The warm gold finish complements the scarlet coats, deep equine tones, and muted greens, delivering a strong period-appropriate presentation.

Framed Dimensions:
✅ 41 cm (W) × 26.5 cm (H) × 4 cm (D)
Ideal for libraries, sporting rooms, country houses, and refined interior schemes.

Provenance
• Gloucestershire Art & Antiques Dealer
• Harriet Wynter, Interior Decorations & Antiques, Brighton
Privately Loaned & Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum
• Private Collection
• Curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
A solid, reputable provenance supporting long-term collectability.

Why You’ll Love It ❤️
✅ High-energy composition featuring fox, hounds, riders, and landscape
✅ Signed work by a recognised Victorian sporting artist
✅ Rich period atmosphere and historical authenticity
✅ Striking Rococo-style frame with museum AR70 glazing
✅ Excellent choice for collectors of equestrian, countryside, or sporting art See less