Thoroughbred Victorian Print By Heywood Hardy 1880 In Carved Trompe Loeil Frame Appraisal

Thoroughbred - Victorian Print by Heywood Hardy (1880) in Carved Trompe l'Oeil Frame

This item is a late Victorian era black-and-white print titled 'Thoroughbred' by the English artist Heywood Hardy, dated 1880. The artwork depicts a sophisticated young woman in equestrian attire feeding a snack to a large dark horse, accompanied by two dogs at her feet. The most striking element is the highly unusual hand-carved wooden frame, which is meticulously sculpted to resemble a weathered stone archway or ruin. The frame features a stepped 'brick' top and is decorated with high-relief floral and foliage carvings at the lower corners, suggesting a Trompe l'oeil style. The wood shows a gilded or light-ochre finish with substantial faux-weathering and dark patina in the crevices to enhance the masonry effect. The print itself appears to be a lithograph or engraving from the period. Notable condition notes include visible cracking and wear to the frame's finish consistent with age, particularly along the lower edges including the word 'Thoroughbred' which is carved directly into the frame's lower masonry panel. This piece represents a unique blend of 19th-century academic animal painting and creative folk-art craftsmanship in the framing.