Hereford Bull, British Cattle Chromolithograph from Animaux de la Ferme, 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 HEREFORD, TAUREAU." (Hereford breed, bull). The bull stands in full profile facing the viewer's left, a long, heavy animal with the classic Hereford markings: a deep red body, a white face, a white crest running along the top of the neck and back, a white dewlap and underline, and white above the hooves. His short horns curve forward around the poll and his tail ends in a pale switch. He stands on a sandy yellow 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, à 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 "O. de Penne del." and the printer's line reads "Imp. Zanote, rue des Boulangers, 13, Paris." (printed by Zanote, rue des Boulangers, Paris). The abbreviation stands for delineavit, drew it. The artist is the French animal painter Charles Olivier de Penne (1831 to 1897).

The Hereford, from the county of Herefordshire in the west of England, was a leading improved beef breed of the period, recognized at once by its red body and white face. 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.