Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

John Emms
Collies in a landscape

$17,122.55
£12,500
€14,730.46
CA$23,527.33
A$26,331.51
CHF 13,743.02
MX$321,108.63
NOK 175,891.98
SEK 166,504.28
DKK 109,931.49
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

John Emms (1841-1912) Collies in a landscape Oil on canvas signed and dated 'JNO EMMS/ 86.' (lower left) Canvas Size - 30 x 25 in Framed Size - 36 x 31 in Provenance Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 9 June 1995, lot 186. with Malcolm Innes Gallery, London; The Collection of Charlie Watts. Charlie Watts, the legendary drummer of The Rolling Stones, was renowned not only for his musical prowess but also for his profound affection for animals, particularly Collies. He and his wife, Shirley, resided at Halsdon Manor in Devon, where they managed a stud farm for Arabian horses. Their estate was also home to numerous dogs, reflecting their deep commitment to animal welfare. John Emms was a British artist best known for his dynamic and characterful paintings of dogs, especially working breeds like foxhounds, terriers, and collies. Born in Blofield, Norfolk, in 1843, Emms developed a deep connection to the countryside and rural life, which became the heart of his artistic inspiration. While he painted horses and hunting scenes, it was his dog portraits that brought him enduring recognition. Emms had a remarkable ability to capture the individuality and spirit of each animal, portraying them not just as pets or working animals, but as noble and expressive beings. His brushwork was confident and lively, and he often painted dogs with a sense of pride, intelligence, and dignity. Among the many breeds he painted, collies held a special place. Emms portrayed them with great sensitivity, often emphasizing their alert expressions, soft coats, and loyal nature. His collie paintings, like many of his dog portraits, were popular among dog lovers and country estate owners in Victorian and Edwardian England. His works such as Callum (a Dandie Dinmont Terrier) and The New Forest Foxhounds exemplify his skill at rendering texture, anatomy, and personality. These paintings remain highly sought after by collectors today and are featured in major collections, including the National Gallery of Scotland. John Emms continued painting dogs until late in his life, and his legacy lives on through these warm and vivid tributes to man’s best friend. His work remains a high point in the tradition of 19th-century British animal portraiture.
  • Creator:
    John Emms (1843-1912, British)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Stoke, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU446316642282

More From This Seller

View All
An Arabian stallion, in a landscape, with pyramids and riders beyond
By George Henry Laporte
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Attributed of George Henry Laporte (c. 1799–1873) An Arabian stallion, in a landscape, with pyramids and riders beyond Oil on canvas Canvas size - 13 1/2 x 20 in Framed size - 20 x 2...
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Lord Hardinge's Arabian stallion 'Meanee', in a desert landscape
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Pawley (1850-1879) Lord Hardinge's Arabian stallion 'Meanee', in a desert landscape signed and dated 'Pawley. pinxit/ 1849' (lower right) Oil on canvas Canvas size 17 x 21 in F...
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Duncan's Horses, a Scene from Macbeth
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1891) Duncan's horses - 'Macbeth' signed with initials, inscribed and dated 'CLF sketched September 5th 1849’ (lower left and lower centre) Oil on panel Painting size - 13 x 17 1/2 in Framed size - 20 x 24 1/2 in Provenance Christie's London, Sporting Art & Dogs, 14th July 2001, Lot 183, sold for £5,288; The Collection of Charlie Watts. Charlie Watts, the legendary drummer of The Rolling Stones, was renowned not only for his musical prowess but also for his profound affection for animals, particularly Collies. He and his wife, Shirley, resided at Halsdon Manor in Devon, where they managed a stud farm for Arabian horses. Their estate was also home to numerous dogs, reflecting their deep commitment to animal welfare. Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822–1891) was a British equestrian and sporting artist, and the son of the acclaimed Leicestershire painter John Ferneley Sr., one of the leading figures in 19th-century English horse painting. Continuing the family tradition, Claude developed a refined skill in depicting horses, hunts, and rural scenes, often drawing from the vibrant sporting life of the English countryside. Although he lived somewhat in the shadow of his more famous father, Claude Lorraine Ferneley maintained a solid reputation among country patrons for his ability to portray horses with anatomical accuracy and spirited realism. His paintings often captured the energy of the hunt and the elegance of equestrian portraiture, appealing to a clientele that prized their animals as both companions and status symbols. His work is noted for its clarity, control, and fidelity to the traditions of British sporting art, and today, Claude Ferneley is recognized as an accomplished artist in his own right, contributing to the enduring legacy of the Ferneley name in English equestrian painting.
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A mother and pups
By John Murray Thomson
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
John Murray Thompson R.S.A (1885-1974) A mother and pups signed 'J Murray Thompson -' (lower left) Oil on canvas Painting Size - 18 x 24 in Framed Size - 22 1...
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Watching over baby
By Henry Garland
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Henry Garland (fl.1854-1900) Watching over baby signed 'H. GARLAND.' (lower left) Oil on canvas Painting Size - 14 x 18 in Framed Size - 20 x 24 in Provenance The Collection of Char...
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A startled Arabian Horse
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
English School, 19th century A startled Arabian horse Oil on canvas Painting Size - 12 x 16 in Framed Size - 14 x 18 in Provenance With The Parker Gallery, London; The Collection o...
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A startled Arabian Horse
$4,040
Free Shipping

You May Also Like

A Horse in a Field. Oil on Canvas by Wright Barker
By Wright Barker
Located in St. Albans, GB
Wright BARKER 1864 - 1941 Canvas Size: 24 x 30" (61 x 76cm) Outside Frame Size: 31 x 37" (79 x 94cm) Oil on Canvas Free Shipping Exhibited : 1885 - 1935 He was a figure and animal painter who was based originally in Bradford, where he lived until 1885, when he moved to Edwinstowe, near Mansfield, Nottingham. In 1901 he moved to Hampstead and then back north to Harrogate where he stayed until his death. In his later years he became a picture dealer, but in his will he referred to himself as ‘animal painter’. Barker became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1896. Although he called himself an animal painter he is also known to have painted ‘Roman Maidens...
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Village Inn Victorian Oil Painting Gilt Framed Many Figures Chickens & Dog
By Georgina Lara
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"The Tavern" by Georgina Lara (active 1862-1971) oil painting on canvas, framed painting: 9 x 13 inches framed: 13 x 17 inches Delightful Victorian oil painting by the very popular...
Category

19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique English Victorian Oil Painting Young Child with Her Pet Dog & Flowers
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Favorite Pet Portrait of a Victorian English Child with her Dog English artist, mid 19th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 28.5 x 20 inches Provenance: private collection,...
Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Cattle Grazing in a Wooded Landscape - British Victorian art oil painting
By Thomas Baker of Leamington
Located in London, GB
This lovely British Victorian oil painting is by noted 19th century landscape artist Thomas Baker of Leamington. It was painted on 18th September 1854 as a special commission. The co...
Category

1850s Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Cat and Dog - Victorian genre 1884 animal art oil painting
By Carl Suhrlandt
Located in London, GB
This superb Victorian animal portrait oil painting is by noted listed artist Carl Suhrlandt. Painted in 1884 it is a lovely portrait of a cat and dog in a living room at supper time....
Category

19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Antique British Dog Oil Painting Portrait of Dalmatian Dog Signed & dated 1896
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Dalmatian Dog by Adrienne Lester, British 1870-1955 signed & dated 1896 oil on canvas, framed framed: 27 x 32.5 inches canvas: 25 x 30 inches provenance: private collection condi...
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil