18th Century Rare Oil Painting of Two Leopards at Play from The Royal Menagerie

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James Northcote b.1746
18th Century Rare Oil Painting of Two Leopards at Play from The Royal Menagerie
1797

About the Item

James Northcote RA (English 1746 - 1831) 'Two Leopards at Play from the Royal Menagerie' 1797 Oil on Canvas Provenance. Christies london Bennison, london Framed in an early gilded frame 31 x 35.5 inches Exhibited at the Royal Academy 1797 This incredibly rare painting depicts two leopards frolicking in an exotic landscape of the artist's imagination. The animals have been classified by zoological expert, Dr Jonathan Scott as Sunda Clouded Leopards from Indochina, denoted by the clouded pattern on their flanks and the exceptionally large gape of their mouths - almost 90 degrees! And by their elongated canine teeth - the longest of any living felid. Trading of exotic animals became a flourishing business in the mid-late 18th Century after the territorial gains and economic expansion made by Britain during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and resulted in a huge increase in shipping between Asia and England. Together with Britain's dominance of her sea and her maritime expansion, this new economic prosperity resulted in a huge increase in both the volume and variety of exotic animals entering London, and a surge in popularity and public fascination with these animals. It is likely that Northcote will have studied these two rare animals whilst they were resident at the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London. Whilst many exotic animals were available to view at both the Royal Menagerie and others, very few artists were able to capture the character and anatomy with such impressive skill. Although Northcote had enjoyed prior financial and critical success with his portrait paintings, his animal paintings were particularly revered. Henry Fuseli, the Swiss Romantic painter and contemporary rival of Northcote, declared of Northcote's 'Angel opposing Balaam,' “Northcote, you are an angel at an ass, but an ass at an angel”. Born in Plymouth and apprenticed to his father, a poor watchmaker, in his spare time James drew and painted. In 1769 he left his father and set up as a portrait painter. Four years later he went to London and was admitted as a pupil into the studio and house of Sir Joshua Reynolds. At the same time he attended the Royal Academy Schools. In 1775 he left Reynolds, and about two years later, having made some money by portrait painting back in Devon, he went to study in Italy. On his return to England, three years later, he revisited his native county and then settled in London, where John Opie and Henry Fuseli were his rivals. He was elected associate of the Academy in 1786 and a full academician the following spring. Northcote’s works number about two thousand, and he made a fortune of £40,000. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1787. He sponsored the admission in 1829 of Thomas Sewell Robins to the Royal Academy Schools. Northcote also sought fame as an author, and his first essays were contributions to the Artist, edited by Prince Hoare. A striking mezzotint engraving on copper was made by Samuel Reynolds after the Northcote's painting and published in London in 1798. Reynold's lived and worked in London and studied at the Royal Academy schools. Although not related to Sir Joshua Reynolds he did actually engrave after his namesake. James Northcote, was a pupil of Joshua Reynolds so it is likely that this is how the connection was made.

Creator:
James Northcote b.1746 (1746 - 1831, British)
Creation Year:
1797
Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)
Medium:
Oil
Movement & Style:
Old Masters
Period:
1790-1799
Condition:
Gallery Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU67335599372

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18th Century Rare Oil Painting of Two Leopards at Play from The Royal Menagerie

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18th Century Rare Oil Painting of Two Leopards at Play from The Royal Menagerie
1797

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