What kind of lighting would be authentic for a Victorian house if the house was in the country?

Oil lamps and possibly gas. For general lighting in the larger rooms, an oil lamp chandelier of sorts was used. Out in the country, you used what was available, so a wagon wheel or some other suitable farm implement might be used to make the chandelier. Nothing fancy. These people were utilitarian. There would be oil or gas lamp sconces down hallways especially next to doors so one could see where the doorhandle was. Sconces also lined the walls in larger rooms. There might be a simple lamp hanging from the ceiling in smaller rooms such as bedrooms, but mostly there would be portable table lamps on the bedside table and in the center of the dining room and den tables.

The kitchen, because it was a workroom, was well-lit. It might have simple but efficient general lighting from the ceiling and sconces above work areas. The work tables would be under general lighting units with possibly a portable oil lamp close by the work. The dining room and kitchen tables would be under general lighting sources and have oil lamps in the center that would often be removed while eating to prevent accidents. Also, candles were still often used in place of portable oil lamps.

Traditionally, cleaning the lamp glass was done on Saturday or Sunday afternoon by one of the household children. The child would carry them to the renserie (the kitchen ante room at the backdoor next to the pantry where root vegetables were cleaned before entering the kitchen proper, I forget the English name for this), woodroom, or some other work area, clean the glass, polish the brass, fill them with oil, then replace them until the following week.

^^ addendum: By mid-19th century, or the early Victorian Era, whale oil was still quite popular as a household fuel. But it was dirty, could smoke up a room and the lamp glass quickly and even damage fabric over time. It also had a faint odor of burnt fish. Upon the devolpment of fossil fuels, kerosene soon replaced whale oil as the preferred household fuel. It was cheaper, burned cleaner and was relatively odorless.

The short answer here is that there is no standard for Victorian houses in the country other than the fuel would have to be available on-site and portable. Likely kerosene or other oil product and candles.

Because of generally poor sanitation in cities and lack of air conditioning it was popular for wealthy families to have a rural ‘mansion’ to retreat to during the summer months. Furnishings were every bit as elaborate as those in town.

Farm people brightened the holidays with candles.

Research the type of home you’re designing, and then look for historic homes that are similar that have been restored, is my best suggestion. There was no ‘standard’ in Victorian times, just as there’s no standard now.

You might be interested in the reprint of the 1897 Sears catalog that’s widely available.

Applause for the crow. Damned fine job!

Gas lighting. Or similar fixtures.

Would gas lighting be possible in the country?

I don’t think the house my great-grandparents built around 1890 had gas, electricity or plumbing until the 1930s. This was in a town of about 600 people. It’s still in the extended family.

No central heat yet. I have fond memories of the electric blankets and the cold, cold floor when I was visiting as a kid.

No, @jaytkay.

Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most popular method of outdoor and indoor lighting in cities and suburbs.

I have a photo of a old run-down dilapidated house outside Goldendale, Washington (USA) that was lit by gas.