At The Brink: Bear And Hounds In Combat 19Th Century Painting Manner Of Ansdell

“At the Brink: Bear and Hounds in Combat”
English School, 19th Century – in the Style of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885)
Subject & Medium
This 19th-century English School oil on panel painting presents one of the rarest and most dramatic sporting themes: a bear at bay, reared in defiance against a pack of attacking hounds.
Where foxes and stags were the usual quarry of Victorian sporting painters, the ferocity of a bear hunt was an almost unrecorded subject in British art. The choice reveals the era’s fascination with the exotic and untamed, and the composition recalls Flemish models by Paul de Vos and Abraham Hondius, widely known through prints circulating in England.
Composition & Technique
The work is charged with energy and tension:
Design – The bear dominates the centre as a vertical mass, while the hounds encircle in diagonal bursts of attack.
Colour – Warm browns and ochres establish the earthy ground, with sharp whites highlighting the hounds; muted greens and greys in the wooded background intensify the central struggle.
Brushwork – Rapid, lively strokes capture fur and movement; denser layers build the bear’s weight; the sky is softly blended for contrast.
Style – Anatomical accuracy combined with theatrical drama, strongly aligned with Richard Ansdell’s manner.
Though small in format, the panel has the presence of a much larger canvas, designed to command attention in cabinet display.
Artist & Influence
While the hand remains anonymous, the painting is unmistakably in the style of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885):
Liverpool-born painter, among the most celebrated sporting artists of his generation.
Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1840; elected Academician in 1870.
Renowned for depictions of hounds, deer, otter hunts, and predator-prey encounters.
Rivalled Landseer, though favoured raw energy and the thrill of combat over sentiment.
This work demonstrates the wide influence of Ansdell’s dynamic style on Victorian sporting art.
Frame & Presentation
Frame: Larson-Juhl “Imperial” reverse-profile moulding in gold leaf, selected to amplify the painting’s drama.
Glazing: AR70 museum-grade protective glass (anti-reflective, 70% UV-blocking).
Ready for immediate display.
Dimensions
Frame: 29.5 cm (h) × 34 cm (w) × 4.5 cm (d)
Provenance
Painted in the 19th century, English School.
Framer’s label verso: A. & E. Beer, Picture Framing Specialists, Southampton.
Local Hampshire/Southampton ownership.
Consigned to a Dorset auction house.
Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Significance
Rarity – Bear-hunting subjects are exceptionally scarce in English School works.
Cultural Value – Captures Victorian Britain’s fascination with nature’s violence and spectacle.
Collector’s Appeal – Historic resonance, strong artistic influence, and intimate cabinet scale.
Condition Report
Panel: Stable.
Paint: Fine craquelure; minor losses on raised details; light rubbing on dogs’ muzzles.
Varnish: Warm, aged, uneven gloss; cleaning could enhance vibrancy.
Frame: New, pristine.
Overall: Fair to good condition, with the patina of age reinforcing authenticity.
Why Collect It
Rare subject seldom seen in Victorian sporting art.
Combines Flemish influence with the energy of Ansdell’s style.
Solid provenance and exhibition history.
Museum-standard frame and glazing for preservation.
At the Brink: Bear and Hounds in Combat embodies the intensity and vitality of Victorian sporting culture, offering collectors an uncommon and striking work of English School painting.
Would you like me to also prepare a shortened version (auction catalogue style, one to two concise paragraphs), or keep this fuller narrative for your eBay and gallery listings?