There’s a distinctly sporting flavour to Clevedon Salerooms upcoming Autumn Fine Arts sale.
Amongst a richly eclectic mix of the rare, unusual and the decorative, which always make these sales a red-letter day for collector and enthusiasts, is a group of paintings which capture the Victorians’ love of dogs, specifically, that most sleek and speedy of our faithful friends, the greyhound. We might think of the greyhound as having a rather working class image, but the world of the dog track is a far cry from the esteem in which the breed was formerly held. In the 19th century the greyhound was a symbol of status and wealth and a prized possession amongst country gentlemen. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was a fan and thought so much of his greyhound, Eos, that he commissioned renowned animal artist Sir Edward Landseer to paint a picture of her in 1841. Three years later he was desperately distraught when the dog died. Other owners were keen to capture their prize hounds on canvas for posterity and one of the most sought after artists was James Armstong, whose reputation for excellence in depicting champion dogs earned him commissions from prominent patrons. His paintings were not only appreciated for their artistic quality but also served as valuable records of the finest specimens of the time. The auction will feature four greyhound studies, all originating from a country house in Northumberland. Three by James Armstrong, widely considered one of the most accomplished Victorian greyhound artists and show the dogs depicted in a rural surroundings, with estimates ranging from
Clevedon Salerooms Autumn Fine Art sale will be held on Thursday September 12th, please visit the website for full details.