Artwork
Gogerddan hunt
Gogerddan hunt is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales. The canvas depicts a hunting party traversing a rugged, hilly terrain.
About this work
Overview
The canvas depicts a hunting party traversing a rugged, hilly terrain. Mounted figures in vivid red coats and dark hats ride alongside footmen who manage packs of dogs. Some horses are in motion while others pause, and the dogs appear scattered, either sprinting or resting. A cloud‑filled sky looms over a palette of earth tones punctuated by the reds and blacks of the riders.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a traditional fox‑hunting scene, illustrating the coordinated effort of riders, hunters on foot, and their hounds. The composition emphasizes the social hierarchy of the hunt, with the brightly dressed riders taking prominence, while the dogs and landscape provide context for the sport’s ritualized nature.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil, the painting demonstrates meticulous attention to the anatomy and movement of both horses and dogs. The artist employs a naturalistic approach, using layered brushwork to convey texture in the rocky ground and foliage, while the contrast of bright reds against muted browns and greens draws the eye to the central figures.
Context
Set within the British countryside, the scene reflects the 18th‑19th‑century pastime of organized fox hunting, a social activity that combined sport, status, and land management. The depiction aligns with contemporary visual records that celebrated rural leisure and the coordination between man, horse, and hound.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
