‘Mrs Allnutt’s Greyhound’

Watercolour and pencil

Signed with monogram and dated 1829 lower right

Titled verso

22.5 x 31 cm

Provenance:

Sale, Sotheby's London, 15th November 1990, Lot 84 (sold for £1,800), sold by order of a member of the de Rothschild family.

£950

The dog depicted, most likely to be a whippet or Italian greyhound, almost certainly belonged to Eleanor Allnutt (1789-1866), née Brandram, the second wife of the wealthy wine merchant John Allnutt (1773-1863) of Clapham Common.  John Allnutt was a discerning art collector and chief patron of Ward as well as Turner, Constable and Sir Thomas Lawrence who painted Eleanor’s portrait on at least two occasions.  Ward is also known to have corresponded directly with Eleanor. 

 James Ward is regarded as one of the greatest animal artists of his time.  An animal lover, he believed strongly that they were capable of feelings on a level with humans and often depicted them in agitated states of emotion.  Although not quite as dramatic as his larger works in paint, the present picture certainly captures the essence of a worried whippet.