Autumn Shooting Party with Pointers
Painting on canvas, likely relined or mounted on board • British or European School, manner of the 18th-century English sporting tradition (such as Peter Tillemans or John Wootton) but executed in a later Impressionist-influenced style
Style & Movement
Sporting Art / Impressionist Influence
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, executed with a loose, painterly technique featuring visible brushstrokes and wet-in-wet blending
Creation Period
Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century (circa 1880-1920)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 20 x 16 inches; vertical portrait format
Subject Description
A traditional hunting scene depicting three figures in period attire (waistcoats and tricorn-style hats) traversing a field with two pointers (one liver/red and one white/ticked) flushing game. The composition uses a vertical perspective with atmospheric recession into a woodland background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair; visible surface grime, yellowed varnish, and significant craquelure throughout the paint film
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$600 - $900 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; stylistic evidence suggests a piece intended for a country house interior, likely passed through private collections
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the enduring popularity of sporting subjects in the late 19th century, blending classical hunting themes with a more modern, sketchy aesthetic typical of the turn-of-the-century revival of Georgian tastes.
Notable Features
The use of 'retro' 18th-century costumes in a late 19th-century painting style indicates a nostalgic commission. The frame is a modern gilt wood reproduction.
Condition Issues
Stable craquelure (alligatoring) indicates uneven drying of paint layers or heat exposure. Surface accumulation of dust and nicotine/smoke film. Possible thinning of glazes in the sky area.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish removal followed by a light re-varnishing with a non-yellowing synthetic resin. Inspection of tension on the stretcher bars is advised.
Collector Notes
Oil on canvas shooting scene