William Secord Gallery, Inc.

04/20/2021

JACQUES-BARTHÉLEMY DELAMARRE

SEATED POODLE and SEATED WHITE ANGORA CAT, pair

There are relatively few French eighteenth century paintings of dogs. And while the names Desportes and Oudry come to mind, they were better known for their paintings of sporting dogs, done for the King and the French aristocracy.

An exception to this rule is the work of Jacques-Barthélemy Delamarre, who was best known for his portraits of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pet dogs. The Queen (reigned 1774 to 1793) doted on her small canine companions, all of whom she named Pompon. This particular painting is one of several versions, including one from the estate of Mrs. Vincent Astor. Pompon is typically shown with desk accessories to illustrate its small size, but the paintings do vary from one version to another. Little is known about the white Persian cat whose portrait accompanies Pompon, undoubtedly also a favored pet of the Queen.

Jacques-Barthélemy Delamarre (French, 18th Century)
Seated Poodle on a Writing Desk, one of a pair
Oil on canvas, 9 ½ x 12 ¾ inches
Framed: 12 x 15 inches
Provenance: Shirlee & Lawrence Kalstone Collection

Jacques-Barthélemy Delamarre (French, 18th Century)
Seated White Angora Cat, one of a pair
Oil on canvas, 9 ½ x 12 ¾ inches
Framed: 12 x 15 inches
Provenance: Shirlee & Lawrence Kalstone Collection

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/home.cfm

With all best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

03/16/2021

PALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED FEATURES
BRUCE BIERMAN & WILLIAM SECORD'S RESIDENCE!

The March issue of “Palm Beach Illustrated” features the Palm Beach penthouse of award-winning interior designer Bruce Bierman and his husband, the art dealer William Secord.

Located on the thirtieth floor overlooking the intra-coastal, the town of Palm Beach and the ocean, this apartment proves that mixing modern design and antique dog paintings makes for spectacular results.

Bierman, who was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2000, has received innumerable accolades for his work, known for its couture-like attention to detail. And art dealer Secord has for over thirty years specialized in animal paintings and dogs in particular, some of which have found the perfect home in this thirtieth floor aerie in the sky.

Please click on the following link to view the full article https://issuu.com/pbmg/docs/pbi_march_2021_web/114

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/home.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

01/28/2021

CHRISTINE MERRILL, LUKE

Christine Merrill is America’s finest painter of dogs in the classical tradition. Inspired by such artists as George Stubbs (1729-1806) and Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-1873), she has over the years developed her own unique style; depicting not only the physical appearance but also capturing the unique individuality of the dog she is painting.

Christine’s recent commission of a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Luke is a case in point. As his owner says, “Christine captured our Luke brilliantly, even though she had not met this dog in person.” Indeed, the portrait was painted entirely from photographs, videos, the client’s observations, and collaborative conversations with the artist creating what Christine calls a “virtual commission.” With people traveling less, this has allowed Christine to accept new commissions, meet new dogs and create lasting memories for their owners.

Christine Merrill (American, Contemporary)
Luke
Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/home.cfm

With all best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

CHRISTINE MERRILL, LUKE

Christine Merrill is America’s finest painter of dogs in the classical tradition. Inspired by such artists as George Stubbs (1729-1806) and Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-1873), she has over the years developed her own unique style; depicting not only the physical appearance but also capturing the unique individuality of the dog she is painting.

Christine’s recent commission of a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Luke is a case in point. As his owner says, “Christine captured our Luke brilliantly, even though she had not met this dog in person.” Indeed, the portrait was painted entirely from photographs, videos, the client’s observations, and collaborative conversations with the artist creating what Christine calls a “virtual commission.” With people traveling less, this has allowed Christine to accept new commissions, meet new dogs and create lasting memories for their owners.

Christine Merrill (American, Contemporary)
Luke
Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/home.cfm

With all best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

12/16/2020

TRISTAN L. JULES LaCROIX FRENCH HOUNDS AT REST, 1883

The tradition of the hunt in France has a long and venerable history, with packs of hounds kept by the aristocracy since as early as 122 BC. Large hunting establishments were developed, culminating in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The sport of the hunt became very formalized under Louis XV, for instance, who maintained a hunt staff of two equerries, 12 lieutenants, 24 captains, 4 valets for the Bloodhounds and 70 grooms. His stables maintained as many as 250 horses and up to 400 hounds!

In contrast to the prevalent Romantic School, several artists of mid nineteenth century France saw a return to nature and realism. Artists such as Constant Troyon, Charles Olivier de Penne and Tristan LaCroix left Paris to paint surrounded by nature in the vast forests of Fontainebleau.

This depiction of hounds resting after the hunt is typical of LaCroix’s work, with the loosely applied paint creating a sun-dappled and almost luminescent effect. LaCroix often painted hounds and while we do not know the exact breed of those here depicted, they would have been a part of Grande Vénerie, hunting red deer, roe deer, wild boar and wolves.

Tristan L. Jules LaCroix (French, 1849-1914)
French Hounds at Rest, 1883
Oil on canvas, 28 ½ x 36 ¾ inches
Framed: 44 x 51 ½ inches
Provenance: Shirlee & Lawrence Kalstone Collection
Illustrated: William Secord “Dog Painting, A History of the Dog in Art,” page 129
Price upon request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/home.cfm

With all best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

12/07/2020

SHIRLEE AND LARRY KALSTONE COLLECTION

Shirlee and Larry Kalstone were the quintessential collectors, putting together an extraordinary collection of dog paintings, works on paper and walking sticks with the image of the dog. Their collecting interests evolved directly from their interest in the history of purebred dogs, their care and grooming. An icon in the world of dog and cat grooming, Shirlee wrote 16 best-selling books on a variety of subjects, but especially books on grooming Poodles, undoubtedly her favorite breed. Along with her husband Larry, she developed high-end grooming products under the Ring 5 name, allergy products for Allerpet and founded Intergroom in 1981, an international grooming conference which brought together dog groomers from around the world.

The Kalstones’ collecting interests were wide ranging with paintings from as early as the eighteenth century, to classic paintings by such artists as Maud Earl (1863-1943), George Horlor (1823-1895) and Gourlay Steel (1819-1894), who was Queen Victoria’s animal painter in the Scottish Highlands. They also collected the work of living artists, notably Christine Merrill and Joseph Sulkowski, with two examples in this exhibition.

This collection is a legacy of their devotion to the dog. We are pleased to offer these works for sale in fond memory of a truly doggy couple.

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view the entire exhibition: http://www.dogpainting.com/exhibition.cfm

With all best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

10/22/2020

J. H. BERRY, WAITING FOR DINNER

The history of the St. Bernard is wrapped in mystery and romance, conjuring up images of the breed in the eighteenth and nineteenth century at its ancestral home in the Swiss Alps. The monks of the St. Bernard Hospice kept the breed where its life saving abilities could be put to good use. The St. Bernard pass which links Switzerland and Italy is especially treacherous and it was said that because of its extraordinary scenting abilities, St. Bernards could detect lost travelers under up to twenty feet of snow!

And while the St. Bernard was initially bred for function, it was soon taken on by the pure bred dog fancy. Dogs were imported to England for breeding purposes and to win in the show ring. J. H. Berry depicts our St. Bernard in a classic show pose; it is viewed from the side, it's head slightly turned toward the viewer to show off how it conforms to the standard for the breed.

J. H. Berry (English, 19th Century)
Waiting for Dinner
Oil on canvas, 18 x 22 inches
Framed: 21½ x 25 ¼ inches
Provenance: Alexandra Griggs Bishop Collection
$6,500

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/search_results.cfm?ExhibDate=20200828

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

09/29/2020

ENGLISH SCHOOL, 19th CENTURY, READY FOR DINNER

The Otterhound is a very old breed indeed, tracing its ancestry in Great Britain to the twelfth century and the reign of Henry II, who was the earliest known Master of the Otterhounds. The breed was first used out of necessity, and then as a sport. Otterhounds were kept in packs and by the nineteenth century, several famous packs had been developed. The breed eventually became quite rare because of the depletion of fishing stock, partly due to water pollution. Hunting with Otterhounds was made illegal in the United Kingdom in 1978 but the breed continued in the twentieth century as a valued pet and show dog.

This portrait is skillfully painted with rich, textural brush work and appears to be related to the well-known English animal artist, John Emms (1843-1912). Best known for his horse, hound and terrier paintings, Emms' work was characterized by his quick, fluid application of paint, such as is seen in this painting. He was also known for his use of a particular blue-green which animated his canvases, an effect which can be seen in this painting, especially on the door and masonry in the background.

English School, 19th Century
Ready for Dinner
Oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches
Framed: 29 ½ x 25 ½ inches
Price on request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/search_results.cfm?ExhibDate=20200828

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

09/03/2020

THE ALEXANDRA GRIGGS BISHOP COLLECTION OF
DOG AND SPORTING ART

Alexandra Griggs Bishop, known to her many friends as Sandy, was an avid lover of art and animals. As an extraordinary sportswoman herself, her art collections reflect a wide range of interests in the world of sport.

Sandy, along with her husband Jerry (Louis Faugères Bishop III) who pre-deceased her, not only collected nineteenth century dog and horse paintings, but also the early art and artifacts of the many sports that interested them: fox hunting, upland and waterfowl shooting, horse racing, pugilism and tennis among them.

Included in this exhibition are paintings and works on paper by Edwin Deming (American, 1860-1942), Edwin Landseer (English, 1802-1873), Ogden Pleissner (American, 1905-1983), John N. Sartorius (English, 1759-1828), and Franklin Voss (American, 1880-1953).

We are delighted to offer these works of art for sale in fond memory of a truly sporting couple.

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view the entire exhibition: http://www.dogpainting.com/exhibition.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

07/17/2020

CHRISTINE MERRILL, THE ROYAL TRIUMVIRATE

We are thrilled to offer this painting by Christine Merrill, America's premier pet portraitist. Painted in a circular format, it captures all the playful affection of the breed, while reminiscent of eighteenth century people portraits.

Christine's early paintings were influenced by the great English painters of the 18th century, and in particular, George Stubbs (1724-1806). And as with some of his dog portraits, the background merely serves as a contrast to the dogs themselves who are painted with great detail. Like Stubbs, Christine is one of the few artists painting dogs today who have a true understanding of their anatomy, coat texture and canine expression.

Christine Merrill (American, Contemporary)
The Royal Triumvirate
Oil on board, 22 x 24 inches
Framed: 27 x 29 inches
Price on request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/index_new.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

07/06/2020

ENGLISH SCHOOLS, GETTING INTO MISCHIEF

This charming nineteenth century painting of a Yorkshire Terrier is typical of many beautiful, but unsigned English oil paintings. Reminiscent in its brush work of artists such as Walter Harrowing (English, 1844-1904), the subject is a mischievous pet who has been chewing his mistress's shoe. Typically Victorian, the Yorkie appears to be slightly remorseful!

English School, 19th Century
Getting into Mischief
Oil on canvas, 23 x 18 ½ inches
Framed: 26 3/4 x 22 ½ inches
Price on request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/index_new.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

06/09/2020

GEORGE W. BROWNLOW, JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

George Washington Brownlow was predominantly a Victorian genre painter, depicting scenes of everyday life such as families gathered around a fireplace or sentimental depictions of children playing.

Well-known during his lifetime, he exhibited at London's prestigious Royal Academy, as well as at the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists on Suffolk Street in London. While not an animal painter per se, he has captured the direct, rather quizzical expression of this Jack Russell Terrier.

George Washington Brownlow (English, 1835-1876)
Jack Russell Terrier
Oil on board, 13 x 11 ½ inches
Framed: 18 x 16 ½ inches
Price on request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/index_new.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

05/14/2020

ARTHUR WARDLE, PRESS GANG, 1902

This portrait of Press Gang is one of Arthur Wardle's most successful purebred dog portraits, showing how the dog conforms to the written standard for its breed. Press Gang is painted with great detail, while the background and the pink rose in the foreground are more loosely rendered.

Press Gang was a well-known English show dog, winning thirteen challenge certificates between 1901 and 1903. Wardle painted the dog's portrait several times, including him in his famous large painting entitled "Bulldogs of the Twentieth Century."

Arthur Wardle (English, 1864-1949)
Press Gang, 1902
Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches
Framed: 37 ½ x 42 ½ inches
Bred by J. Gilmore by Pressmoor Dandy ex Nell
Owned by J. Atkinson-Jowett
Won 13 CCs between 1901-1903
Illustrated: William Secord: "Dog Painting, A History of the Dog in Art," page 96
Price upon request

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/index_new.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky

05/14/2020

Liza Todd Tivey of Golden Slumbers

04/10/2020

CHRISTINE MERRILL, WESTIES

This charming painting captures some of the happy, inquisitive nature of the West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie. The breed was developed in the nineteenth century by the Malcolm family of Poltalloch in Argyllshire, Scotland.

While other breeders liked a cream and white dog, the Malcolm family preferred an all-white dog that could be easily seen in the rocky crags of the Scottish Highlands. By the time the Westie was introduced to the British dog show world in the early twentieth century, the Malcolm family had been breeding an all-white dog for almost one hundred years.

Christine Merrill (American, Contemporary)
Westies
Oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches
Framed: 17 x 19 ½ inches

Please contact us for more information or visit our website to view our entire inventory: http://dogpainting.com/index_new.cfm

With warm regards and best wishes,

William Secord and Galina Zhitomirsky