Artwork
'The White Hart' (pub sign)

'The White Hart' (pub sign) is an unspecified painting by the Plein Air artist Myles Birket Foster. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The White Hart is a pub sign painting by Myles Birket Foster, dated to 1875, currently in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a mythical white hart (a deer-antlered elk hybrid) in a serene, reclined pose, adorned with a neck chain and a floral chest garland, conveying an atmosphere of peace.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic style, the work showcases meticulous attention to detail, evident in the textured depiction of the hart's fur and the intricate floral garland, set against a contrasting dark, muted background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1875 by Myles Birket Foster, the painting's history prior to its acquisition by the Victoria and Albert Museum is not detailed here.
Context
As a pub sign, The White Hart would have originally served as an identifying emblem for an establishment, blending folklore with practical purpose.
Legacy
The painting's legacy is marked by its preservation in a prominent museum, though specific influences or notable exhibitions featuring the work are not highlighted here.
Artist & collection
Artist
Myles Birket Foster (4 February 1825 – 27 March 1899) was a British illustrator, watercolourist and engraver in the Victorian period. His name is also to be found as Myles Birkett Foster.



















