Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, R.A. 1802-1873

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Description

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, R.A.
Some of the best harts in the Forest
inscribed in pen and ink on the original backboard: Lady Tankerville / Blackmount 1860 Oct
black and coloured chalk with stump over traces of pencil, on buff paper
65.5 by 85 cm.; 25 1/2 by 33 1/2 in.

Provenance

Lady Olivia, Countess of Tankerville;
by family descent

Catalogue Note

In this work a doe is surrounded by four stags on a rocky mountain side. Landseer appears to have based this work on another pastel, titled Some of the best hearts in the Forest, a drawing that forms part of a triptych which was commissioned by Lord Breadalbane (see C.S. Mann, The Work of Edwin Landseer, 1875, vol. III, p. 106). In both the composition is the same with minor differences to the poses of some of the animals.

For much of his life Landseer made annual visits to the Highlands. While in Scotland the artist spent many weeks at Blackmount, an estate owned by Lord Breadalbane. The 6th Earl and Countess of Tankerville were also regular guests, it is possible that on seeing Landseer's earlier pastel in the Breadalbane collection, Lady Tankerville commissioned the present work.