Items Similar to Antique Portrait of a Bulldog: "Big Ben" by Arthur Wardle (England, 1864-1949)
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Arthur WardleAntique Portrait of a Bulldog: "Big Ben" by Arthur Wardle (England, 1864-1949)Circa 1900
Circa 1900
About the Item
Antique Dog Portrait of a Bulldog "Big Ben in Garden"
Arthur Wardle (England, 1864-1949)
Pastel on paper
Circa 1900
13 x 9 inches
Though he made his reputation with large-scale oils, Wardle is now remembered for his pastels, Christopher Wood considering them ‘probably his best medium … in which he made many wonderful studies of animals’ (The Dictionary of Victorian Painters, Woodbridge: Antique Collectors’ Club, 1978, page 498). Indeed, these were praised as early as 1916, in an article in The Studio magazine, as ‘more than just things seen, they are felt and understood, and they have the subtle spirit which comes only in the interpretation of an artist who is himself in sympathy with the curious personalities which are presented to him’. He had the supernatural ability to render texture, color, light & shade, capturing all spontaneously and accurately with each aspect serving to symbolize his deep empathy and relationship to his subjects.
For the lovers of canines, Arthur Wardle is one of the pre-eminent painters of dogs that England has produced.
Biographical detail:
Born in 1864 and evidently self-taught-having not attended art school-Arthur Wardle exhibited his first painting in the Royal Academy in 1880, at the age of only sixteen. Until retirement in 1935, Wardle had over one hundred of his works were accepted by the Academy; he also exhibited with the Society of British Artists, and in 1931 had a solo show at the Fine Art Society. He became a member of the Pastel Society in 1911, and of the Royal Institute of Watercolours, and the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists from 1922.
He was similarly versatile with his subjects, which (although they were mainly animals) included almost every species, from the exotic, to the domestic as well as farm animals. For the first ten years of his career, however, he produced mainly landscapes; it was about 1890 that his extraordinary ability to depict any animal which moved became apparent, and from that point forward he concentrated on animal-painting – particularly big cats and domestic dogs. His submissions to the Academy cleverly included not only these straightforward studies of creatures within landscape settings, hunting, playing or resting, but also mythological subjects which combined animals with the classical gods, thus investing his subjects with the respectability of history painting. Examples include The flute of Pan (Christie’s, 1996) and The enchantress (Christie’s, 1997).
Pastel painting acquired a new lease of life from the 1890s, and Wardle was profoundly taken with the medium. Pastels made it possible for him to produce rapid studies of creatures in constant motion, and to do so in pure colors on tinted paper; some of his best work is in this medium.
Animal Painter renowned for his Dog Portraits and one of the pre-eminent animal and sporting painters of his generation. He became very popular with the public for his oil paintings of dogs, particularly terriers; he worked for dog breeders, immortalizing their champions, and was also commissioned to produce designs for cigarette cards, book illustrations, postcards, and boxes of chocolates. He famously created a poster for recruitment during WWI.
Wardle eventually settled in St John’s Wood, London so that he was close to London Zoo. This is where most of his initial studies were made with the addition of his collection of animal skeletons and models.
Works by Arthur Wardle can be found in numerous museums from London to New Zealand to Wyoming and beyond.
- Creator:Arthur Wardle (1864-1949, British)
- Creation Year:Circa 1900
- Dimensions:Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:The painting has been newly framed and is excellent condition.
- Gallery Location:SANTA FE, NM
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1408212224272
Arthur Wardle
Arthur Wardle was a British artist and animalier painter. His prolific oeuvre focused on his fascination with dogs of various breeds, creating rich, naturalistic paintings of domestic pets and hunting animals captured in moments of lifelike movement. His work is characterized by its high degree of realism and is representative of the 19th-century interest in detailed artistic representations of animals. Born in 1860 in London, England, Wardle notably began exhibiting his work at age 16 at the Royal Academy. He began his career by sketching cattle near the Thames river, and would frequently depict exotic wildlife by studying them at the London Zoo and then transposing them onto local landscapes. Wardle was widely appreciated and acclaimed for his paintings, garnering inclusion among the Pastel Society in 1911 and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1922. Wardle died on July 16, 1949, in London, England, and his legacy lives on through his images' reproduction on commercial products like chocolate boxes, posters, calendars, and postcards. Today, the artist’s work can be found amongst the collections of the London-based Tate Modern, Leeds City Museum and The Kennel Club.
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1995
1stDibs seller since 2020
91 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Santa Fe, NM
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Antique Painting of a Hunting Dog Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) Circa 1870Located in SANTA FE, NMAntique Painting of a Hunting Dog Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) Circa 1870 Oil on paper. 8 x 6 (18 1/2 x 15 1/4 frame) inches The dog, possibly a Grand Griffon Vendéen, is depicted wi...Category
1860s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Laid Paper
- Antique Dog Portrait of "Mignonne" dated 1876 by Louis Eugène BourgeoisLocated in SANTA FE, NMAntique Dog Painting of "Mignonne" dated 1876 Louis Eugène Bourgeois (French 1831-1878) Pastel on cardboard Signed lower left "E. Bourgeois" Inscribed upper right "Mignonne." Rever...Category
1870s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsPastel, Cardboard
- Portrait of a Monkey with Wine Jug, Zacharias Noterman (Bel. Fr. 1824-1890)By Zacharias NotermanLocated in SANTA FE, NMPortrait of a Monkey with Wine Jug Zacharias Noterman (Belgium & France 1824-1890) Initialed "Z N" l.r. Oil on board 8 x 6 inches PROVENANCE: Galerie Tamenaga, Paris (label verso); Louvre des Antiquaires, Paris; Berman Swarttz, Los Angeles, California, Marcella Swarttz, Beverly Hills, California 8 x 6 inches Zacharias Notermann (1820 in Ghent – 1890 in Paris) was a Belgian painter and printmaker who specialized in scenes with monkeys engaging in human activities (the so-called singeries), as well as in paintings of dogs. He also produced images and scenes of traveling circuses. Zacharias Noterman was born in Ghent in the family as the son of an artist-decorator. He was originally trained by his older brother Emmanuel Noterman, genre and animal painter active in Antwerp. Noterman continued his art education at the Academy of fine arts Antwerp. Zacharie Noterman...Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil, Board
- Antique Painting of a Dog: "Red Terrier" circa 1910, European SchoolLocated in SANTA FE, NMAntique painting a of a dog "Red Terrier" Possibly Dutch School Oil on wood panel, circa 1910 Initialed lower left 7 1/2 x 7 (12 x 11 1/2 frame) inches A charming and thoughtfully...Category
Early 1900s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Wood Panel
- Antique Dog Painting; Cavalier King Charles Gustav Lorincz (Austrian, 1855-1931)Located in SANTA FE, NMAntique Dog Painting of a Cavalier King Charles Gustav Lorincz (Austrian, 1855-1931) Oil on panel, signed 9 1/4 x 6 3/4 (13 3/4 x 11 1/4 frame) inches Gustav Lorincz was a noted painter of animal subjects, mostly portraiture of dogs and cats...Category
Early 1900s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
- Antique Dog Painting of a Terrier by Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) Circa 1870Located in SANTA FE, NMAntique Dog Painting of a Terrier Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) Circa 1870 Oil on wood panel 8 1/8 x 5 5/8 (13 1/4 x 10 3/4 frame) inches This is one of several examples of dogs being painted in this precise style as face-on with a mirthful expression that we've located. The examples all seemingly date to around 1870 and were painted by several artists all who rather contemporaneous of one another; Louis...Category
1870s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Wood Panel
You May Also Like
- Cocker Spaniels, pastel of dogs sitting patiently on the front porchBy Barrie BarnettLocated in Charleston, USCocker Spaniels, Barrie Barnett, renown pastel artist, astonishes with her skill with pastel. Not a photograph this is an original painting. Two blonde C...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsPastel
- Two Men and a Horse by African American Artist Bai, Contemporary Art on PaperBy Bai (Carl Karni-Bain)Located in New york, NYTwo Men and a Horse, 2024 by contemporary African American artist Bai (Carl Karni-Bain), is a 30 x 22in acrylic, oil pastel, and ballpoint pen abstract figurative painting on etching...Category
2010s Contemporary Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil Pastel, Acrylic, Rag Paper, Ballpoint Pen
- Hannah and Her DogBy Kathryn KellerLocated in New Orleans, LA"Hannah and Her Dog" is a painting by Kathryn Keller. The piece is 17.5 inches high and 19.5 inches wide. "Hannah and Her Dog" is framed. The framed dimensions are 25.5 inches high, ...Category
2010s Animal Paintings
MaterialsPastel, Paper
- Race Horse Phoenix with Guilermo Kemmis - British 19th century art oil paintingLocated in London, GBThis superb British 19th century equine oil painting is by noted horse lover, George Gascoyne. Painted in 1889, this French born chestnut horse is Phoenix. While he was essentially a miler, Phoenix (sometimes seen spelled as “Phenix”) came from a family that had produced Classic winners in France at up to 15 furlongs. He proved an excellent sire following his export to Argentina, becoming the foundation stallion for Guillermo Kemmis' breeding program at Haras Las Rosas. This painting is from his time in Argentina with Kemmis. Phoenix is depicted in a flat landscape against a vivid blue sky. A gentleman, possibly his owner, Guillermo Kemmis, stands smiling in front of him holding his reigns and gives perspective to how tall Phoenix is. Although in profile, Phoenix is turning to look at the viewer, his chestnut coat gleaming and his anatomy perfectly portrayed. This is a superb Victorian equine portrait of a noted horse in the 19th century and is a lovely example of Gascoyne's work as a horse lover. Signed with initials and dated GG 1889 lower right. Provenance. Inscribed "Phenix" (Cymbal -- Belle-Etoile) by George Gascoyne, Sittingbourne, Kent to reverse. Condition. Oil on canvas, 36 inches by 28 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a wooden frame, 44 inches by 36 inches and in good condition. HORSE BIOGRAPHY Phoenix (FR) 1875 – 1893? Chestnut horse. Cymbal (GB) x Belle Etoile (FR), by First Born (FR) Family 25. While he was essentially a miler, Phoenix (sometimes seen spelled as “Phenix”) came from a family that had produced Classic winners in France at up to 15 furlongs. He proved an excellent sire following his export to Argentina, becoming the foundation stallion for Guillermo Kemmis' breeding program at Haras Las Rosas. Race record. Complete record unavailable but as follows: 1878: Won Prix de la Forêt (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp) 1879: Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket July). Won Rous Memorial Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot). Won Bunbury Stakes (ENG, Newmarket). 2nd Rosebery Handicap (ENG, Epsom) 1880: Won Lennox Stakes (ENG, Goodwood) As a stallion: Phoenix was the Argentine champion sire six times, reaching the top in 1887-1890, 1892 and 1895. Notable progeny: Hawk Eye (ARG), Lenape (ARG), Marinera (ARG), Osiris (ARG), San Martín (ARG), Surplice (ARG) Connections: Phoenix was owned by Comte Frédéric de Lagrange. After being exported to Argentina, he stood at Haras Las Rosas, the stud farm of leading Argentine breeder Guillermo Kemmis. His last known foals were born in 1894. Pedigree notes: Phoenix is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by Cymbal, a son of 1861 Derby Stakes winner Kettledrum, he is out of Belle Etoile, whose half sister Garenne (by Gladiator or Ethirion or Freystrop) is the second dam of 1894 Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Gouvernail and the third dam of 1894 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby...Category
1880s Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil
- Little Girls and Their New Friends Genre Scene 19th century Oil Painting on WoodLocated in Stockholm, SEVery touching scene with two little girls. Two sisters are thrilled to meet their new pets that their parents have bought. The sincerity and immediacy of children's feelings depicted...Category
Late 19th Century Realist Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Wood Panel
- 19th Century Child and Dog PortraitLocated in San Francisco, CAFabulous 19th Century oil on canvas portrait of a child with their dog. It is signed and dated 1872 underneath the gold matting. I cannot decipher the signature. Painting could be ei...Category
1870s Realist Portrait Paintings
MaterialsOil
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
In Laid
Painting Of New England
1949 Paintings
1949 Painting
Antique Society
Painting Of London England
New England Antiques
Antique Laid
New England Light
A Bigger Book
Antique New England Art
Oil Royal England
Painting Gardens London
Painters Box
Ten Works Ten Painters
Ten Works By Ten Painters
Farm Animals
Spirit Animals