This charming mid-19th-century European watercolour depicts a young lady riding a grey mare before a view of Berg Perchtoldsdorf, Austria.

During the 19th century, aristocratic women adored their horses and rode frequently for pleasure, travel and hunting. As such, riding habits were developed specifically for equestrian activities to cater for the increasing number of fashion-conscious ladies on horseback. Here, in around 1860, the lady is wearing a long black habit - a common colour as it disguises the mud.

Beyond, the view extends to distant mountains via Burg Perchtoldsdorf, a fortified 13th-century church and, given the angle of the church, it’s evident that we’re placed to the East. As such, we're close to an 18th-century aristocratic estate, which became known as Theresienau.

The Theresienau estate included a mill constructed by Johann Georg Widter (c.1725-1797) and it’s plausible that the young lady depicted is a direct descendant. Johann had a son, Christoph (1779-1812), who became a master miller, and he in turn had a son, also Christoph (b.1811). Christoph Widter Jr married Anna Wurdinger in 1847 and the pair had several children.

The artist is unknown but it bears an interesting ‘JH’ monogram in the lower left on a stone.

Monogrammed in the lower left, framed (in a contemporary frame of Dutch origin) and glazed.

Medium: Watercolour on paper
Overall size: 25” x 19” / 64cm x 49cm
Year of creation: c. 1860
Provenance: Private collection, Holland / Private collection, England.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Our reference: BRV1750