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

An original antique chromolithograph, printed in color, lettered "RACE NORMANDE, BŒUF." and published in Paris about 1863 in Victor Borie's Animaux de la Ferme, Espèce Bovine. A massive ox stands in profile facing left, his coat a very dark brindled brown with white patches on the cheek, the shoulder, the flank and the forelegs. Pale horns sweep upward from the poll, and the long tail hangs to a full switch. He stands on a sandy ground, his shadow falling to the right, under a pale yellow sky.

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 "Normandy breed, ox", and the printer's line "Imp. Zanote, rue des Boulangers, 13, Paris." runs at lower left. The drawing is also signed in the stone with the artist's script signature at lower left. The signature is that of the French animal painter Olivier de Penne (Charles Olivier de Penne, 1831 to 1897).

The plate shows the cattle of Normandy, a dual purpose breed kept for milk and beef, with a pied coat often brindled and dark patches around the eyes. 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.

The calm profile and wide margins suit a plain wooden frame with an off white mount, and the plate hangs well alone or with other cattle portraits from the series.

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