Victorian Sporting Oil Painting C.1880 Full Cry The Berkeley Hunt

Victorian Sporting Oil Painting c.1880 — “Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt)”
Charles Faulkner (British, active c.1874–1900)
(This painting is number 3 of 4 from Faulkner’s Berkeley Hunt series. The other works from the series are available for purchase separately. If you wish to acquire all four together, please contact us.)
Subject & Medium
“Full Cry (The Berkeley Hunt)” is a finely detailed oil on board capturing the most exhilarating moment of a traditional English foxhunt. Faulkner’s medium-sized hunting scenes are admired for their clarity, precision, and lively character. Oil on board allows him to achieve tight, controlled detailing across figures and animals, while still conveying a broad atmospheric landscape. The result blends documentary accuracy with the romanticism typical of late Victorian sporting art.
Composition & Technique
Dynamic Foreground
A leading hound races forward in full stride, establishing the painting’s pace.
Three huntsmen gallop powerfully behind, each rider distinct in posture, apparel, and expression.
Their horses—bay, chestnut, and dark brown—are rendered with convincing musculature and anatomical accuracy.
Midground & Structural Drama
On the right, a huntsman and horse leap over a wooden gate, captured mid-air with palpable tension and energy—an iconic feature of Victorian hunting imagery.
A bare winter tree anchors the composition, separating the riders’ diagonal sweep from the distant valley.
Atmospheric Distance
A pale cluster of distant huntsmen and hounds recedes into the far landscape, painted with softened strokes to create depth and aerial perspective.
The Berkeley Vale fields are described in long, sweeping motions that mirror the momentum of the chase.
Painterly Handling
Fine, controlled touches define bridles, coats, collars, and hounds.
Looser, scumbled strokes in sky and terrain unify figures within the landscape.
A harmonious palette of cool greys, winter greens, and warm hunting reds evokes the brisk English countryside.
This is a work designed not only to depict movement, but to convey its sensation.
About the Hunt Scene
The painting captures the dramatic moment known as “Full Cry”—the peak of the chase when hounds and riders commit fully to pursuing the fox.
Historical Context
The scene is based on the Berkeley Hunt, founded in the 12th century by the Berkeley family of Gloucestershire. As one of England’s oldest continuously active hunts, it represents a deep heritage of British country sport and tradition.
Narrative Depth
The tightly packed hounds signal proximity to the quarry.
Riders clear fences, hedges, and fields at speed, demonstrating the athleticism of both horse and rider.
Faulkner conveys the social and cultural significance of Victorian hunting: discipline, camaraderie, and shared excitement.
About the Artist
Charles Faulkner (fl. 1874–1900) specialized in intimate, sharply observed sporting scenes. Although relatively little is known about his personal life, his artistic identity is unmistakable.
Artistic Characteristics
Refined equestrian draftsmanship: Horses rendered with anatomical precision and expressive gaits.
Expressive hounds: Dynamic pack movement that heightens narrative realism.
Atmospheric subtlety: Harmonised misty skies, winter hedgerows, and rolling fields.
Narrative sequencing: Many of his works form multi-part hunt cycles (Meet, View Halloo, Full Cry, Death).
This painting typifies the qualities for which his work remains sought after by collectors of British sporting art.
Signature
Signed “C. Faulkner” lower right, consistent with authenticated examples.
Frame
Presented in a newly fitted Rococo-style gilt frame with decorative moulding, scrolling detail, and floral motifs.
Fitted with museum-quality AR70 low-reflection protective glass, offering:
Enhanced clarity
Reduced glare
UV filtration
Conservation-grade protection
The warm gold finish complements the scarlet hunting coats, rich horse tones, and the natural greens and greys of the countryside.
Dimensions
Framed: 41 cm (W) × 26.5 cm (H) × 4 cm (D)
An elegant size suitable for galleries, libraries, country homes, and curated sporting-art displays.
Provenance
Gloucestershire Art & Antiques Dealer
Harriet Wynter, Interior Decorations & Antiques, Brighton
Private Collection
Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Why Collect This Work
A superb depiction of the most dramatic moment in the hunt
Signed example by respected Victorian sporting painter Charles Faulkner
Presented in a beautiful new Rococo-style gilt frame with museum-grade glazing
Strong, narrative-rich composition full of movement and atmosphere
Historically rooted in the legendary Berkeley Hunt
Part of a four-painting cycle
Ideal for collectors of British sporting art, equestrian subjects, and rural heritage
Condition Report
Structurally stable board
Fine, even craquelure appropriate to age
Minor paint losses in the sky
Light abrasion from prior framing
Gentle surface soiling and aged varnish typical of Victorian oils
Overall well-preserved and display-ready; optional professional cleaning could increase brightness and clarity.
Shipping
Worldwide shipping available. Professionally packed and fully insured.