Main News Index

A remarkable painting by British artist John Emms (1843 – 1912) that shows how much dogs really are a man’s best friend is set to make over a million dollars at Bonhams New York on Valentine’s Day.

‘New Forest Foxhounds’ was commissioned by Henry Powell, master of the New Forest Hunt during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who loved his dogs so much that he asked the leading canine artist of the day to immortalise them on canvas. The result is regarded as one of Emms’s finest works, and is expected to fetch between $800,000 – 1,200,000 (£450,000 – 700,000) – which would be a world record for the artist – when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams’ Dog Art Sale next month. The lot, which has been consigned to auction from Powell’s direct family descendents, includes a copy of the original signed key by Powell with the names and birth dates of each dog.

This sale has been a highlight of the auction calendar for over 20 years and Bonhams is delighted to be bringing back its annual Dog Art Sale to New York following two highly successful auctions on the West Coast. It will take place in Bonhams’ new auction gallery in New York’s historic Fuller Building on Madison Avenue on 14 February 2006.

The sale brings together a plethora of oil paintings, watercolours, bronzes and works of art of canine interest, guaranteed to make this celebration of the dog in art an exciting auction event beloved by dog painting enthusiasts and collectors alike. It also marks the reunion of noted dog painting specialists Charles O’Brien from London and Alan Fausel from New York, who have curated this marvellous sale which also includes works by Arthur Wardle RI (1864 – 1949), Thomas William Earl (fl. 1836 – 1885), William Woodhouse (1857 – 1939), Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1891 – 1905), Briton Riviere (1840 – 1920), and many more.

Barkfest at Bonhams

Shortly before the sale, on Sunday 12 February, Bonhams New York and the American Kennel Club (AKC) will host ‘Barkfest at Bonhams,’ a charity brunch and private viewing of the prestigious collection of dog art included in the auction. All proceeds of the Barkfest will be donated to AKC’s charitable public art programme, DOGNY – America’s tribute to Search and Rescue Dogs. Dog lovers, art afficianados, and their canine companions will have the exclusive opportunity to view artwork featuring dogs and sporting themes at Bonhams’ newest gallery.

Further sale highlights include:

John Emms (British 1843 – 1912) ‘Hounds by a kennel’ $70,000 – 90,000, and ‘A group of Dandie Dinmonts’ $40,000 – 60,000
William Woodhouse (British 1857 – 1939) ‘Setter with game’ $10,000 – 15,000
Maud Earl (British 1864 – 1943) ‘The English Setter “Carta Carna,” working on a moor’ $30,000 – 50,000
Arthur Wardle RI (1864 – 1949) ‘Head studies of two Borzois’ $5,000 – 8,000
James Yates Carrington (British d. 1892) ‘The Orphans’ $10,000 – 15,000

For more details visit the Bonhams web site.