NEW YORK CITY – William Secord, owner of the William Secord Gallery, 52 East 76th Street, has announced that the gallery will host an exhibition of European dog paintings in the fall. This comprehensive exhibition, “Dog Painting: The European Breeds” will open on October 23 and continue through November 25.
The 30 oil paintings that will be in the exhibition have been chosen to represent a range of Nineteenth Century animal artists and to showcase the many breeds characteristic of the major European counties – whether it be the highly bred lap dogs of Paris or the rugged sporting dogs on Scottish Moors.
In conjunction with the exhibition the book Dog Painting: The European Breeds authored by William Secord and published by the Antique Collectors’ Club will be released. The book provides an in-depth study with 580 illustrations, and explores the development of more than 90 breeds, illustrating their evolution with predominantly Dutch, English, Flemish, French, German and Italian paintings of the period.
“Very little has been written on the subject, so I was thrilled when The Antique Collectors’ Club commissioned me to do this book,” said William Secord. “It has taken me eight years to complete, but virtually every one of the 580 illustrations are previously unpublished, and there should be something for everyone.”
Highlights from the exhibition include purebred and sporting dog portraits by English artists. George Earl (1824-1908), Maud Earl (1863-1943), John Emms (1843-1912) and Arthur Wardle (1864-1949). French animal painters are represented by Jules Chardiny and Alexandre-Victor Fontaine. Belgian realist, Joseph E. Stevens (1823-1906) has one oil on panel in the exhibition as does the less well known Charles van den Kycken (1859-1923).
The great Dutch animalier., Henriette Ronner (1821-1909) is represented by two paintings of spaniels, and Woutereus Verschuur (1812-1874) by a charming interior scene with a Newfoundland and two King Charles Spaniels. The exhibition will be accompanied by a full color catalogue.
William Secord, an authority on Nineteenth Century dog paintings, has previously published a book on the subject, Dog Painting, 1840-1940, A Social History of The Dog in Art, currently in its fifth printing. Secord is also the founder and former director of The Dog Museum of America in St Louis, Mo.
For information, 877/249-3647.
