🐾🎨  Victorian Style Sporting Masterwork – Portrait of a Prized Lurcher Greyhound

Oil Painting After Samuel John Carter – English Elegance

Step into the grandeur of early 20th-century England with this striking Painting depicting a Prized Lurcher Greyhound, painted in the manner of renowned animal artist Samuel John Carter (1835–1892). This extraordinary work is a celebration of form, nobility, and the timeless bond between humans and their hunting companions.

🎨 Artistic Composition & Style

Painted with the skill and sensitivity that defined the Victorian sporting tradition, this portrait captures the Lurcher in full alert stance against a dramatic rural landscape. The sky—layered with stormy clouds and golden light—echoes the wild elegance of the dog itself, suggesting movement, watchfulness, and deep-rooted instinct.

The artist uses a naturalistic yet expressive brushstroke, creating dynamic fur texture and subtle muscle definition. The Lurcher's amber eyes engage directly with the viewer, conveying not just alertness but character. The palette is rich with ochres, muted greens, siennas, and stormy blues, setting a moody but majestic tone.

Rendered after Samuel John Carter—a master known for his detailed, lifelike portrayals of animals and wildlife—this piece carries the legacy of Victorian England’s obsession with both hunting and artistic refinement.

🖊️ Artist Signature

The painting is initial-signed by the British artist J. Warnes, located discreetly in the lower section of the composition. Though little is known about the artist, the confident brushwork, anatomical accuracy, and compositional balance suggest a skilled hand, likely trained in the British sporting or academic art tradition of the late 19th  century to early 20th century period.

This signature adds a personal touch and affirms the painting's authenticity and individual craftsmanship.

🖼️ Medium & Frame

• Medium: Oil on canvas

• Circa: 1910

• Frame: Lavishly decorated, gilded Victorian-style wooden frame with deep relief and rope moulding — a perfect period complement

• Overall Dimensions of frame:

  • Height: 34.5 cm

  • Width: 44.5 cm

  • Depth: 4 cm

The painting is presented ready to hang, with a strong rear hanging wire.

🐕 About the Lurcher

The Lurcher is a symbol of agility, intelligence, and loyalty — often a cross between a Greyhound and a working dog such as a Collie or Terrier. In the 1800s, these dogs were favored by poachers and countrymen alike for their speed and stealth, making them invaluable in rural life.

This portrait doesn't just depict a dog; it enshrines a way of life — a connection to land, loyalty, and tradition.

📜 Provenance & Condition

From the deceased estate of Colonel Peter Charles Edward Fishbourne (1940–2023), respected antiques dealer of Lime House, Earls Colne, Suffolk. Now held in the Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD collection.

The painting is in acceptable overall condition, with yellowed varnish, craquelure, and scattered foxing. It has minor paint touch-ups and small canvas repairs on the reverse. The handmade gilt frame shows light wear and imperfections, consistent with age and craftsmanship.

ntry life art, and lovers of British heritage:

🌟 Why You’ll Love It

✅ A stunning tribute to the grace, intelligence, and loyalty of one of Britain’s most iconic working dogs — the Lurcher, poised in noble stillness
✅ Painted in the revered Victorian sporting tradition, echoing the lifelike sensitivity of Samuel John Carter, famed for his animal portraiture
✅ Combines natural realism and emotional depth, with expressive brushwork and captivating eye contact that brings the subject to life
✅ A perfect blend of artistic refinement and rural legacy — ideal for country homes, hunting lodges, libraries, or lovers of classic British dog breeds

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available

We proudly offer global shipping options with secure packaging and insurance, ensuring this masterpiece arrives safely at your door — wherever you are in the world.

📩 Inquire now to secure this unique piece

🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.