Highland Cattle by a Loch
Painting on paper • Attributed to a follower of the British/Scottish School of landscape painters (bearing a signature lower right, possibly reflecting the circle of Peter MacGregor Wilson or similar regional artists).
Style & Movement
Traditional British Landscape / Scottish Realism
Medium & Technique
Watercolor on paper using wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet techniques, with visible pencil underdrawing.
Creation Period
1923 (dated lower right)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 10 x 14 inches (visual estimate); Horizontal Landscape format.
Subject Description
A pastoral scene set in the Scottish Highlands featuring Highland cattle grazing along a rocky loch shore under a tumultuous sky. Two slender birch trees frame the left side of the composition, while a distant mountain range is visible through a soft atmospheric haze.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing signs of age-related toning and minor fading of pigments.
Estimated Market Value
$300 - $600 USD
Auction Estimate
$200 - $400 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a private UK collection based on subject matter; presented in a mid-20th-century gilt mount and frame.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the early 20th-century continuation of the Romanticized Scottish landscape tradition popularized in the Victorian era. It serves as a regional specimen of topographical and animalier art often sought by local collectors.
Notable Features
Features a distinct date of 1923 and a signature in the lower right corner; captures the 'loch and mountain' aesthetic central to Scottish National identity in art.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing spots on the light gold-toned mount, slight yellowing of the paper support, and minor pigment degradation due to UV exposure.
Conservation Recommendations
Remounting using acid-free, archival materials and replacing current glass with UV-protective museum glass to prevent further fading.