Charolais Ox, French Cattle Breed, Antique Chromolithograph by Borie, 1863

An original antique chromolithograph, printed in color, lettered "RACE CHAROLAISE, BŒUF" and published in Paris about 1863 in Victor Borie's Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine. A heavy cream ox stands in profile facing left, his head turned slightly toward the viewer, with long horns curving forward and a pink muzzle. The broad body is modeled in soft buff and gray, and the tail hangs to a pale switch. He stands on a pale ground streaked with ochre, his shadow falling across the ground behind him.

The sheet is headed "ANIMAUX DE LA FERME, ESPÈCE BOVINE." (Farm Animals, Cattle), with the imprint "Lib. Agricole de la Maison Rustique, rue Jacob, 26, à Paris." at upper left and "par Victor Borie." at upper right. The caption below the image translates as "Charolais breed, ox", and the printer's line "Imp. Zanote, rue des Boulangers, 13, Paris." runs at lower left. At lower right, below the border, the artist is credited as "O. de Penne del.", the Latin delineavit meaning "drew it", which names the French animal painter Olivier de Penne (Charles Olivier de Penne, 1831 to 1897).

The plate shows the white cattle of the Charolais country of Burgundy, raised for work and for beef. Borie's album is a survey in colored portraits of the cattle breeds of France, together with British and other foreign breeds, issued in Paris by the Librairie Agricole de la Maison Rustique of 26 rue Jacob, a publisher of books on farming and rural life. Each animal is drawn broadside against a plain ground, the convention of the livestock portrait, so that the build, coat and horns of the breed can be read and compared from plate to plate.

With its soft printed tints and clear lettering, the plate suits a simple frame and a light mount in a kitchen, study or country dining room.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.