Durham Shorthorn Ox, British Cattle Chromolithograph by Olivier de Penne, 1863

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in color from several lithographic stones, from Victor Borie's Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine, published in Paris about 1863. The plate is lettered "RACE DURHAM, BŒUF" (Durham breed, ox). The ox stands broadside facing the viewer's left with his head turned slightly outward, an enormous, deep bodied animal in a pale roan and creamy white coat with faint reddish patches along the back. Dark rings surround his eyes, his muzzle is dark, his short horns curve forward, and heavy folds of dewlap hang from the throat. He stands on a warm ocher ground with a long gray shadow.

Above the image, the plate is headed Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine (Farm Animals, Cattle), with the imprint "Lib. Agricole de la Maison Rustique, rue Jacob, 26, Paris" at left (the agricultural bookshop of the Maison Rustique), and "par Victor Borie" (by Victor Borie) at right. Below the image, the artist's credit reads "Ol. de Penne Pinx.t" and the printer's line reads "Imp. Zanote rue des Boulangers, 13, Paris" (printed by Zanote, rue des Boulangers, Paris). The abbreviation stands for pinxit, painted it. The artist's signature, Ol. de Penne, is also drawn into the image at lower left. The artist is the French animal painter Charles Olivier de Penne (1831 to 1897).

The Durham, known in Britain as the Shorthorn, was developed in the Tees valley in the north of England and was a leading improved beef breed of the period, imported into France in numbers. Borie's album sets out the cattle of France alongside British and other foreign breeds, each animal shown in profile on a plain ground so that build, coat and horns can be compared. It was issued by the Librairie Agricole de la Maison Rustique, the Paris publisher of agricultural books.

The clear profile and warm palette suit a kitchen, study or country house, alone or with other plates from the series.

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