An Owl

A barn owl perches on a mossy bank, turned toward the viewer, its heart-shaped face pale as parchment against a nearly black background. Dense oak and bramble foliage glows in dark gold behind it, and a small bird darts through the upper right corner. Haughton, an English painter known for still lifes and natural-history subjects, painted the owl's feathers with fine, delicate strokes. The dark, softly lit setting has a Gothic, storybook mood typical of late eighteenth-century animal painting.

The deep browns, bronze, and cream make this a rich, moody piece for a library, study, bedroom, or dining room, and it works especially well in a dark-toned or "dark academia" interior.

Reproduced from the original oil on panel. Available as an unframed print, framed print, floating canvas, or museum canvas in a range of frame finishes.