Description:

Richard Ansdell
British, 1815-1885
The Pride of the Flock
oil on canvas
1873, signed and dated lower right, artist and title plaque on stretcher, "Christie's NYC" label on stretcher, 27 in. x 66 in., framed with artist and title plaque, overall, 33 in. x 72 in. x 2 in. overall, 33 in. x 72 in. x 2 in.
Exh.: Royal Academy, London, 1873.

  • Provenance: Born in Liverpool, Richard Ansdell rose to the upper echelon of Victorian sporting artists on the strength of his ability to paint animals. Between 1840 and 1885, Ansdell exhibited paintings annually at the Royal Academy (149 in total), and he also exhibited some thirty canvases at the British Institution. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1861 and Royal Academician in 1870. From the earliest days of his career, Ansdell painted Scottish animal subjects, in particular favoring sheep. He increasingly visited the highlands of Scotland on holidays and built a home called Moy Lodge on the banks of Loch Laggan in 1868. This location offered him the opportunity to observe the local shepherds and their flocks along with the breathtaking landscape of the region. In the monumental work offered here, Ansdell demonstrates his remarkable skill at depicting the posture and individual expressions of the sheep. Each animal adds a narrative element and unique quality to the scene, while the artist's careful brushwork provides an eye-catching contrast between the soft fleeces and harsh terrain. A masterful composition, both intimate and panoramic in nature, "The Pride of the Flock" was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1873 and is a specular example of an artist at the height of his skill painting his favorite subject.
    Ref.: Draper, Amanda. "Richard Ansdell: Painter of Fur, Feathers and Woolliness." Victory Gallery & Museum. University of Liverpool. vgm.liverpool.ac.uk. Accessed Oct. 18, 2024.
  • Dimensions: 27 in. x 66 in.
  • Medium: oil on canvas

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November 22, 2024 11:00 AM CST
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