This charming mid-19th-century oil painting by British artist Richard Hilder (1813-1852) depicts a landscape with two figures, a stream and a copse.
Two figures, possibly a mother and daughter, stand by an ambling stream with a view of open pasture beyond. In the foreground, a rickety fence spans the waterway, probably to deter cattle from wandering along it and thus getting stuck where it narrows. It’s a picturesque scene rendered with consummate skill.
Born in Holborn, London, Hilder’s artistic career flourished early and, by the age of 19, he was exhibiting at the Society of British Artists in London. It’s conceivable that he was introduced to the delights of landscape painting by his father, a broker, as this branch of art was becoming increasingly popular with middle-class patrons.
Stylistically, his oeuvre draws upon the mastery of the 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painters, particularly in terms of composition, earthy tones, and extensive chiaroscuro. It’s broadly natural but with an added sense of rugged drama. In this respect, it’s interesting to consider the works of Jan Wijnants (c.1635-1684) and Gillis Peeters (1612-1653).
Hilder portrayed rural life as unchangeable and permanent, which was a welcome relief amid the realities of increasing industrialisation. He’s represented in numerous public collections including at the Walker Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.
Held in a later, probably early 20th-century, frame with scrolling foliate strapwork, floral corners and forget-me-not centres.
Learn more about Richard Hilder in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28½” x 22½” / 73cm x 57cm
Year of creation: c. 1845
Labels & Inscriptions: Christie’s stencil on the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Faint stretcher marks. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £5,800 for ‘A Cottage with Figures and Livestock by a River, Surrey’, Oil on canvas, Sotheby's, Important British Paintings, London, 2008 (lot 99).
Our reference: BRV2107
