Bidspirit auction | Monogrammed HL, View of Kirtlington

Monogrammed HL, View of Kirtlington Castle, September 1884 - This late 19th-century English school watercolor on paper depicts Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire, identified by a verso inscription as Kirtlington Castle. The composition features a topographical view of the Palladian country house set within a sprawling pastoral landscape. In the foreground, a gnarled oak tree stands to the left, while a dense cluster of trees frames the right side of the scene. A herd of cattle is depicted grazing in the middle ground across the manicured lawn leading to the estate. The work is executed with naturalistic detail and an atmospheric palette of greens, ochers, and grays, typical of British parkland paintings of the period. The lower right corner bears an intertwined monogram of the characters H and L, followed by the date Sep. 1884. The verso of the backing board features a handwritten cursive inscription reading Kirtlington Castle. The painting is housed under glass in a cream-colored mat with ruled ink borders and a simple gilt-wood frame. Sight size: 10 x 14 inches Frame size: 18 x 22 inches.