Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803–1902) Pastoral Landscape with Cattle and Sheep – Dated 1887

This finely executed pastoral scene by Thomas Sidney Cooper RA depicts cattle and sheep resting in an open rural landscape beneath a broad, softly clouded sky. Painted in 1887, the work dates from Cooper’s mature late period, when he was widely regarded as the foremost animal painter in England and a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy.

The composition shows Cooper’s hallmark strengths: confidently modelled livestock, subtle naturalistic colouring, and a calm, atmospheric handling of sky and distance. The relaxed placement of the animals and the expansive horizon create a sense of quiet rural harmony, a quality for which his work was especially admired by Victorian collectors.

The painting is signed and dated by the artist and remains housed in a richly detailed period gilt frame, enhancing both its authenticity and decorative presence.

Signed lower left:  T Sidney Cooper RA 1887

Canvas measures 14 inches high x 18 inches wide.
with Frame:  20 x 24

Thomas Sidney Cooper was one of the most celebrated British animal painters of the 19th century and a leading figure of Victorian art. Born in Canterbury, England, he trained in London and in Belgium, where he developed a lifelong mastery of painting cattle and rural landscapes with remarkable naturalism and sensitivity.

Cooper achieved widespread recognition during his lifetime, exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy from 1833 onward and becoming a full Royal Academician in 1867. His paintings were admired for their confident draughtsmanship, balanced compositions, and atmospheric skies, qualities that set him apart as the foremost painter of livestock in his era.

Highly sought after by Victorian collectors, Cooper’s work is represented in major public collections, including the Tate and regional museums throughout the United Kingdom. Today, his paintings remain prized for their classical English pastoral imagery and enduring decorative appeal.