Thomas Walker Bretland

A striking antique 19th century oil on canvas animal portrait by Thomas Walker Bretland 1802-1874, depicting “Bounty”, a Sussex Bull.

The work is signed and inscribed “Bounty Sussex” and shows the bull standing in a rural landscape, with a distant building and atmospheric sky beyond. A highly decorative and characterful British livestock portrait, appealing to collectors of agricultural art, Sussex cattle subjects, country house paintings, folk art, and 19th century animal portraiture.

The painting is offered framed.

Measurements

Overall size: 101 x 76 cm

Approximate size in inches: 39.8 x 29.9 inches

Condition

Antique condition with age-related wear throughout.

The canvas is unlined. There is extensive rippling to the support, with associated craquelure and surface cracking, likely resulting from an attempted restoration. The varnish is uneven, with areas of gloss variation and surface disturbance. There are visible cracks, lifting, losses, marks, abrasions, and previous restoration attempts. Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report.

This is a decorative and historically interesting work.