Arthur John Elsley

Sale: Sotheby's, London, November 6, 1995, lot 84, illustrated
Haynes Fine Art, Broadway, England
Acquired from the above by the present owner

London, Royal Academy, 1891, no. 1156 (as Victims)

The Illustrated London News, May 23, 1891, p. 682, illustrated (a black and white drawing of the painting)
Royal Academy Notes, London, 1891, p. 134, illustrated
Royal Academy Pictures, London, 1891, p. 115
Royal Academy Sketches, London, 1891, p. 88
Terry Parker, Golden Hours, the Paintings of Arthur J. Elsley, 1860-1952, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, 1998, pp. 16, 133, illustrated p. 49

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been recently restored and should be hung as is. The canvas has been lined. The paint layer is clean and varnished. There are a few retouches which have been applied in very isolated spots in the background above the figures. There are also retouches in the whites in the front of the young girl's apron, in the kitten, in the left leg of the boy and also in the face of the young girl. All of these retouches have been nicely applied. They could probably be reduced if reexamined because the paint layer does not seem to be damaged and the retouches most likely attend to minor cracking or cosmetic issues. Overall the condition is very good.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

As playful in subject as it is whimsical in detail, Friend or Foe evinces the very qualities that contributed to Arthur J. Elsley's popularity in late Victorian England.  Known in his early career for skilled depictions of canine and equestrian subjects, Elsley soon turned to childhood imagery and merry countryside scenes, a shift due largely to the influence of portraitist Frederick Morgan.  The two artists shared a studio in 1889 and mutually benefited from each other's artistic specialties.  While Elsley painted many of the animals in his collaborations with Morgan, he witnessed the commercial success of Morgan's happy childhood scenes.  Elsley promptly followed suit, incorporating bright-eyed boys and girls together with their pets in lively, large-scale compositions.  Painted soon after the artist's time with Frederick Morgan, Friend or Foe represents an early work within Elsley's oeuvre that was displayed at the Royal Academy in 1891.

Evocative of youthful frivolity and childhood innocence, Friend or Foe captures a spirited moment between two rosy-cheeked youngsters and their beloved pets. A gleeful, round-faced boy tugs eagerly on the collar of a large Saint Bernard, while his playmate teases the dog with a small white kitten.  Elsley's skilfully rendered Saint Bernard occupies the central focus of the work and reminds the viewer of the artist's talent for animal subjects.  The comparatively miniature white kitten is one of Elsley's earlier feline representations, yet the creature's presence is undoubtedly charming within the context of the playful composition.  Though the appeal of Friend or Foe initially stems from the mischievous central narrative, the work is equally delightful in detail. The delicate pink roses creeping softly up the brick garden wall, along with the lone sunflower in the garden beyond, effectively complement the youthful innocence of Elsley's blissful, smiling children.  The young girl's hat, lying forgotten in the grass behind her, similarly reinforces the carefree nature of the scene.  Looking past the action in the foreground, a shadowed garden path leads behind the foursome to a sun-lit clearing in the distance, hinting at the sprawling gardens beyond and suggesting an unbounded arena for outdoor play.  This effect is further implied by an open wooden door on the left side of the composition, which alludes to yet another garden for endless entertainment.  Friend or Foe presents an endearing narrative, captivating for both its blithe, free-spirited protagonists and their vividly rendered surroundings.