A lively hunting study depicting a pack of hounds pursuing a hare through undulating countryside beneath a warmly lit sky. Painted with swift, expressive brushwork and an earthy palette enlivened by the pale coats of the hounds.

Hunting painting in 19th-century France evolved from the aristocratic traditions of Desportes and Oudry into more animated, naturalistic scenes. From the 1830s, artists such as Carle Vernet, Charles-Olivier de Penne, and Rosa Bonheur depicted hounds, game, and countryside with lively brushwork, reflecting Romantic and later Realist taste. By the century’s end, the genre included dog portraits, still-life trophies, and decorative sporting scenes for hunting lodges and country homes.

Stable craquelure overall, light surface rubbing along the margins, and a few minor scuffs; the canvas remains sound and the paint layer secure.

Condition: Period:  19th century

Provenance:  France

Materials:  Oil on paper, mounted on Canvas

Artist:  Unknown

Dimensions:  16.5H x 20.8W in | 42H x 53W cm