When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Antique 19th-century hand-colored engraving of “Borrowdale”, depicting the dramatic landscape of Borrowdale in England’s Lake District with the River Derwent winding through a mountainous valley beneath a turbulent sky.
The image is after the celebrated landscape painter Samuel Bough, R.S.A. (1822–1878) and was engraved by William Richardson. Bough’s original Borrowdale, Cumberland painting was exhibited in 1868; period biographical material specifically notes that the painting gained broad popularity through Richardson’s subsequent engraving for The Art Journal.
The 1868 date belongs to Bough’s original painting, while surviving references identify the Richardson engraving itself as approximately 1871.
Details
Artist: Samuel Bough, R.S.A. (1822–1878)
Engraver: William Richardson
Origin: Great Britain / England
Subject: Borrowdale, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Item: Framed antique landscape engraving
Design: Mountain valley landscape with river, roadway, figures, trees, distant buildings and dramatic cloud cover
Original Painting Date: 1868
Engraving Date: circa 1871
Overall Dimensions: approx. 15.75" × 12.75"
Visible Artwork: approx. 9.5" × 7"
Materials: Engraving on paper, applied color, glass, matting, molded gilt-tone frame
Color Palette: Soft blue / slate gray / charcoal / forest green / cream / antique gold
Design Styles: Victorian / Romanticism / Picturesque / Pastoral / British Landscape / Grand Tour / Traditional
Bough was primarily known as a landscape painter and became a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1856. The British Museum identifies him as a British painter and draughtsman specializing principally in landscapes.
The scene itself is significant within Bough’s career: contemporary biographical material describes his 1868 Borrowdale, Cumberland as an important work that substantially enhanced his reputation.
Reverse
The backing retains:
A decorative period-style “BORROWDALE” descriptive text excerpt
Information discussing the village, Derwentwater, surrounding mountains, Grange, Rosthwaite and the Bowder Stone
An older dealer/collector label reading “This Picture Guaranteed To Be Over 100 Years Old”
Wire hanging hardware
These reverse materials add substantial decorative and historical presentation value even though they should not be treated as formal provenance without additional documentation.
Condition
Antique condition with age-appropriate wear.
The engraving presents very well behind glass. The paper shows expected age toning, with subtle discoloration consistent with a 19th-century work on paper. Applied color remains attractive, particularly the restrained blues and greens within the river, vegetation and landscape.
The ornate gilt-tone frame has surface rubbing, scattered finish loss, darkening and small abrasions, especially along raised decorative elements and corners. These characteristics are visible in the photographs and contribute to the aged presentation.
The cream mat shows light age-related discoloration. Narrow gold-tone inner trim remains intact. Reverse paper backing has age, marks and surface wear, and the attached Borrowdale descriptive sheet has intentionally irregular/torn edges.
No obvious major tears or losses to the visible engraving are apparent from the photographs.
