Victorian Oil Painting C1880 Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt) by Charles Faulkner

Details

Description

British 19th Century Sporting Oil Painting — Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (British, active c.1874–1900)
(This work … Read more British 19th Century Sporting Oil Painting — Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt), c.1880
Charles Faulkner (British, active c.1874–1900)
(This work is number three of a four-part hunting series. The other three paintings are available separately; please message us if you wish to acquire the full set.)
Subject & Medium
Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt) is a finely detailed oil on board depicting the most exhilarating moment of an English foxhunt—the peak of the chase. Faulkner’s medium-format oils are noted for their clarity, precision, and narrative density. Using a smooth board support, he achieves highly controlled figure work while maintaining atmospheric breadth across the landscape. The result is a balanced fusion of documentary realism and Victorian romanticism.
Composition & Technique ✨
Faulkner constructs the composition with dynamic cadence and strong spatial progression.
Dynamic Foreground
A leading hound drives the composition forward, body fully extended in a clean, powerful stride.
Three central huntsmen gallop in close formation, mounted on bay, chestnut, and dark brown horses.
Equine musculature, rein tension, and rider posture are rendered with precise anatomical observation.
Attire—from scarlet coats to top hats—is crisply articulated.
Midground & Structural Drama
To the right, a rider vaults his horse over a wooden gate, captured at full suspension—a quintessential motif of Victorian hunting art.
A stark winter tree rises behind him, dividing the lateral sweep of the riders from the distant valley and strengthening the overall structure.
Atmospheric Distance
A pale cluster of distant hounds and riders is softened with short, diffused brushstrokes to establish depth and aerial perspective.
The rolling pastures of the Berkeley Vale are described in long, fluid strokes that echo the momentum of the chase.
Painterly Handling
Fine, controlled marks on bridles, collars, and hound heads.
Broader, scumbled applications across the sky and ground unify the scene.
A finely tuned palette of cool greys, winter greens, and warm hunting reds produces a harmonious countryside tableau.
This is a painting engineered not merely to depict movement—but to embody it.
The Hunt Scene: “Full Cry”
This work captures the climactic instant when hounds and riders commit fully to the chase.
Historical Context
The setting belongs to the distinguished Berkeley Hunt, one of England’s oldest continuously active hunts (est. 12th century), rooted in Gloucestershire’s rural heritage. Its traditions, uniforms, and fieldcraft form the cultural framework of Faulkner’s narrative.
Narrative Elements
The densely packed hounds indicate immediate proximity to the fox.
Their posture and stride communicate urgency and precision.
Riders clear fences, traverse open fields, and navigate hedgerows at speed—emphasising the athletic demands of the hunt.
Faulkner conveys the Victorian hunt as both sport and social institution, marked by discipline, camaraderie, and ceremony.
Every visual element reinforces the authenticity of this historical sporting record.
About the Artist ✍️
Charles Faulkner (fl. 1874–1900) specialised in intimate, sharply observed hunting and equestrian scenes. Though biographically obscure, his artistic identity is unmistakable.
Artistic Signatures
Refined equestrian draughtsmanship—accurate musculature, expressive gait, controlled anatomy.
Expressive hounds—pack movement studied with precision and vitality.
Atmospheric subtlety—misty skies, winter hedgerows, and rolling fields integrated into cohesive landscapes.
Narrative sequencing—Faulkner often depicted the full hunt cycle (Meet → View Halloo → Full Cry → Death).
His works remain highly desirable among collectors of British sporting and equestrian art.
Signature ️
Signed “C. Faulkner” lower right, aligning with authenticated period signatures.
Framing ️
Presented in a newly fitted Rococo-style gilt frame with elegant scrolling and floral motifs.
Fitted with museum-grade AR70 glazing, providing:
Low reflection
UV protection
Enhanced clarity
Conservation-grade surface protection
The warm gold finish complements the scarlet coats, deep equine tones, and muted greens, producing a distinguished, period-appropriate display.
Framed Dimensions:
✅ 41 cm (W) × 26.5 cm (H) × 4 cm (D)
Suitable for collectors’ galleries, libraries, sporting rooms, and curated country house interiors.
Provenance
• Gloucestershire Art & Antiques Dealer
• Harriet Wynter, Interior Decorations & Antiques, Brighton
• Private Collection
• Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum
• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
A robust provenance supporting long-term investment appeal.
Why You’ll Love It ❤️
✅ Dramatic, high-energy “Full Cry” moment
✅ Signed work by esteemed Victorian sporting painter Charles Faulkner
✅ Superb movement, narrative clarity, and atmospheric cohesion
✅ Newly fitted Rococo-style gilt frame + AR70 museum glazing
✅ Rooted in the history of the legendary Berkeley Hunt
✅ Elegant palette and strong decorative presence
✅ Central work within the four-painting Berkeley Hunt cycle
✅ Ideal for collectors of sporting, equestrian, and rural British art See less