🐎 Chestnut Hunter in Stable — Early Victorian Oil Painting by Charles Bilger Spalding 

🐎 Subject & Medium

Presenting a fine early Victorian British equine oil painting portrait titled:
“Chestnut Hunter in Stable” (circa 1842) by renowned artist Charles Bilger Spalding RA.
This striking equine portrait captures the noble form and spirit of a chestnut hunter gelding, painted in exquisite detail.
Medium: Oil on canvas, set in a beautifully crafted gilt wood Larson Juhl moulded frame that enhances the artwork’s classic charm.

🎨 Composition & Technique

The composition centers on a chestnut thoroughbred gelding hunter horse in full side profile, standing calmly in its stable. With its gleaming chestnut coat, matching mane and tail, small white facial marking, and striking white-striped hoof, the horse is depicted with remarkable anatomical precision and lifelike presence.

The background reveals golden-brown straw scattered across the stable floor and a softly textured, partially paneled wooden wall, creating a warm, rustic atmosphere. The horse’s alert yet gentle glance toward the viewer adds personality and intimacy to this portrait.

Spalding’s brushwork is exquisite: delicate, controlled strokes define the horse’s musculature and subtle hair textures, while broader, more expressive handling in the background introduces depth, softness, and painterly charm. The color palette glows with layered chestnut reds, honeyed browns, warm ochres, soft umbers, and muted shadows, creating a beautifully balanced, harmonious work. Spalding’s style merges realism with atmospheric richness, perfectly capturing the horse’s grace and quiet strength.

✍ Signed

This piece is signed in the bottom corner by Charles Bilger Spalding RA and inscribed with the horse’s name below — a rare and desirable example of his early work.

🖌 About the Artist

Charles Bilger Spalding RA (1810–1871) was a renowned British painter celebrated for his masterful portraits of sporting animals and hunting scenes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, and his works have been showcased and sold internationally, with auction results reaching as high as $26,214 USD.

🖼 Frame Details

Recently reframed in a Larson Juhl gilt wood moulded frame, the artwork is beautifully complemented by this elegant and timeless surround, enhancing its visual and historical appeal.

📏 Dimensions Framed

• Height: 54 cm

• Width: 66.5 cm

• Depth: 2.5 cm

📜 Provenance

• Private southern Shire vendor

• High-end southern Shire auction

• Collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd.

💖 Why You’ll Love It

✅ A timeless equine portrait — a genuine early Victorian masterpiece.
✅ Original signed work by a Royal Academy–exhibiting artist with distinguished provenance.
✅ Rich detail, lifelike expression, and a glowing chestnut palette that will captivate any viewer.
✅ Ideal for collectors, equestrian lovers, or anyone seeking a striking statement piece for home or office.
✅ Guaranteed to impress guests, clients, and visitors with its elegance, craftsmanship, and history.

🛠 Condition Report

The painting is in fine used condition for its age (circa 1842).

• Canvas: Original and unlined; scattered foxing stains, craquelure, some paint loss, and touch-ups; faint stretcher lines visible.

• Frame: Handmade Larson Juhl gilt frame with minor imperfections.

🧐 This 180-year-old artwork proudly shows its age — typical and expected in authentic Victorian pieces. It remains stable, collectible, and ready for display, offering both historical value and decorative beauty.

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available
Professionally packaged and fully insured for safe international delivery.

🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

📩 Inquire now to secure this unique piece