Professions & Trades · 19th century
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good for age. Light toning to sheet, a few scattered fox marks, and minimal handling wear. Strong impression with excellent detail.
Cattle Early Morning – Antique 1849 Engraving by J. Cousen after T.S. Cooper
This finely detailed steel engraving, titled Cattle Early Morning, is after a painting by Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803–1902), one of the most celebrated 19th-century British animal painters, renowned for his pastoral scenes featuring cattle and sheep. The engraving was executed by John Cousen (1804–1880), a master engraver known for his precise linework and ability to capture both the texture of animal coats and the luminous atmosphere of rural landscapes.
The composition shows a tranquil highland scene at dawn. In the foreground, a group of cattle and sheep rest and graze on rocky pasture, their forms rendered with remarkable realism and attention to anatomical accuracy. Morning mist drifts through the valleys, softening the outlines of the distant hills and suggesting the cool, fresh air of early day. The light subtly illuminates the cattle’s glossy coats and the fleecy texture of the sheep, a testament to Cooper’s skill in painting and Cousen’s mastery in translating that vision into engraved form.
Originally issued in 1849 in the Vernon Gallery series, which reproduced works from the national collection for public enjoyment, this print embodies the Victorian taste for idealised rural life and the beauty of the British countryside. Both Cooper and Cousen were highly regarded in their time, and their collaborations remain sought-after examples of mid-19th-century pastoral art.
Condition: Very good for age. Light toning to sheet, a few scattered fox marks, and minimal handling wear. Strong impression with excellent detail.
Framing tips: A warm cream or light ivory mount paired with a gilt or dark wood frame will enhance the tonal depth of the engraving and complement its serene rural subject.
Technique: Steel engraving
Maker: J. Cousen after Thomas Sidney Cooper, England, 1849
