Handsome Pair of 19th Century French Landscape Watercolors in Wooden Frames Dated 1840 - 17" x 22"

A handsome pair of signed watercolors, dated 1840, each watercolor on paper laid down on card and presented in understated dark-stained wooden frames. One panel shows a hunting scene, the other a bucolic riverside landscape, both rendered in a soft palette of mossy greens, warm ochres, and sky blues. Delicate brushwork describes leafy canopies, rocky banks, and flowing water, while tiny figures animate the views and lend a quietly narrative character. The paintings are in good condition with faint moisture traces along the sides and light age toning that do not distract, the frames in very good condition with only minor surface wear.

Painted in the early 19th century, these landscapes reflect the Romantic taste for the picturesque and for storytelling set within nature. Watercolor was prized at the time for its ability to capture atmosphere and transient light, and mounting paper to card was a common practice to keep the support stable. Paired subjects of the field and the pastoral home life were popular in bourgeois interiors, echoing country pursuits and the idealized rural idyll.

This pair hangs beautifully together above a console or mantel, bringing the charm of the countryside into a library, study, or entry. Their gentle tones complement plaster walls, paneled rooms, and natural linens, and they harmonize with English country, French provincial, or traditional American interiors. Evoking the atmosphere of a rural retreat, the landscapes recall days spent hunting, fishing, and strolling along shaded paths, their intimate figures and layered details rewarding close viewing. Consider them flanking a doorway or anchoring a stair hall, where they introduce the calm rhythms of nature and the romance of country life.