ben lawers at first light with highland cattle beside loch tay by tom seymour (1844–1904) — oil on canvas, c.1880

Ben Lawers at First Light with Highland Cattle Beside Loch Tay
By Tom Seymour (1844–1904) — Oil on Canvas, c.1880
Subject & Medium
This evocative Highland landscape captures the first light of dawn over Loch Tay, with the massif of Ben Lawers rising in the distance, its rugged peaks softened by a veil of morning mist. A rustic stone cottage nestles against the slopes to the right, symbolising the quiet resilience of human life amid untamed nature. In the left foreground, a mountain stream tumbles over rocks and ferns, glinting in the pale morning light as it winds toward the valley.
Anchoring the composition, a trio of Highland longhorn cattle graze among heather and rough pasture. Their shaggy coats and warm earthy tones of russet, dark brown, and creamy gold glow against the cool silver dawn. Seymour uses oil on canvas to heighten the interplay of atmosphere and solidity: cattle and rocks firmly grounded, the loch and mountain suffused with luminous softness.
Composition & Technique
Foreground: The rocky stream and heather frame the cattle, painted with anatomical accuracy and warm tonal depth. Their textured coats are built up with short, expressive strokes.
Middle ground: Mossy greens and muted purples lead the eye to the small croft cottage, adding narrative and scale.
Background: Ben Lawers rises in misty grandeur, its form softened by cool greys and silvers transitioning into pale morning blues.
Palette: Warm ochres, russets, and earthy browns balance against blue-greys, silvers, and greens, evoking the chill of early air and the warmth of life stirring in the glen.
Brushwork: Fine detailing for foliage, stone, and fur contrasts with looser, sweeping applications for sky and mist. Seymour’s Romantic sensibility merges with Victorian topographical accuracy, uniting mood and realism.
About the Artist
Tom Seymour (1844–1904) was a Victorian painter celebrated for his atmospheric depictions of Scotland and rural Britain. His landscapes often included cattle, sheep, or cottages — emblems of pastoral life — set within majestic natural settings. Collected widely in his time, his works remain admired for their harmony of poetic atmosphere and geographic truth.
Signed
Signed lower right.
Dimensions (Framed)
67 cm wide × 47 cm high × 2.5 cm deep
Presented in a later gilt moulded traditional frame.
Provenance
Private Collection, United Kingdom
Notable Middle Shire Auction
Exhibited at Middle Shire Museum
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Why Collectors Will Value It
A luminous Highland dawn scene combining cottage, stream, and cattle in one complete pastoral tableau
Evocative depiction of Ben Lawers and Loch Tay — grandeur balanced with intimacy
Rich tonal harmony of warm earth hues and cool atmospheric light
Signed by a respected Victorian painter of Scottish landscapes
Ideal for collectors of Romantic or pastoral art
Condition
Overall good condition for age
Stable age-related craquelure, with minor paint loss along lower edges and some foxing
Professionally revarnished in 2010, preserving colour and tone
Frame with wear and scuffs consistent with age, structurally sound and display-ready
Shipping
Worldwide shipping available. Expertly packaged and fully insured for safe international delivery.
Acquire this atmospheric Highland masterpiece — a work of Romantic naturalism that brings the grandeur of Ben Lawers and the quiet charm of rural life into your collection.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: 38QEN3XY4

Maker/Artist:

Tom Seymour

Materials:

Oil on canvas

Width (cm):

67

Height (cm):

47

Depth (cm):

2.5

Please note that this price may NOT include delivery charges which the seller may charge extra for.

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