A WONDERFUL c.1920 PAINTING OF A SPRINGER SPANIEL FETCHING A PHEASANT FOR ITS OWNER NOT OFFERED PREVIOUSLY FROM AN AUCTION HOUSE, ESTATE FRESH, AND BY A PROMINENT AMERICAN AND BRITISH PAINTER OF THE DOGS OF THE BOURGEOIS AND OF ACTIVE HUNTING SCENES. A LOVELY EXAMPLE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.

ARTIST: Reuben Ward Binks

Reuben Ward Binks [1880–1950] was recognized as the leading artist of his day in canine portraiture, not only in the United Kingdom, but abroad. He was commissioned to painted dogs for three generations of the British Royal family, and among his patrons were four successive monarchs.

Binks was commissioned to paint the famous terrier, Caesar for King Edward VII and some of the favorite dogs of Queen Alexandra. He also painted Clumber spaniels for King George V, Cairns for King Edward VIII (then Prince of Wales), retrievers for King George VI (then the Duke of York), terriers for the Duke of Gloucester (then Prince Henry), Alsatians for the late Duke of Kent (then Prince George), and the pets of Princess Victoria (sister of King George V).

He also spent months in the Punjab, painting for an Indian potentate, the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, the ruling Maharaja of Patiala and paid several visits to the USA to fulfil commissions for prominent American families, including Geraldine R. Dodge, niece of the famous millionaire, John D. Rockefeller.

In recent years, some of the wonderful Binks works commissioned by the Rockefeller family have sold at auction for $3,000 +. The present work is from the same period and bears a striking resemblance, especially his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, shown in the image on this listing, which sold at Bonham's for $7,500.00. 

There is a fantastic article on Binks on HuffPost here: The Rockefeller Reuben Ward Binks Fancy Royal Dog Portraits (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Entertainment

SIZE OF COMPOSITION: 14.5 x 18.5 inches [quite large for Binks]

MEDIUM: Gouache

CONDITION: Colors are very bright and nicely preserved; his works can often be faded because of presentation under non-UV protective glass. This one is unusually clear. Two pen tip sized areas middle left and a few mild abrasions upper right can easily be left as is or repaired. It is very attractive as is. Unframed.