The Deer Hunt

First up is the oldest painting in our collection, The Deer Hunt. This famous hunting painting is from the Baroque period and was painted in by French sporting artist Alexandre‑François Desportes in 1718.

Initially trained in portraiture, Desportes soon gained a reputation for his ability to capture exciting hunting scenes like the one in this painting. These types of paintings became highly desired by nobility, and by the early 18th century Desportes secured the patronage of royals such as Louis XIV and Louis XV, who frequently commissioned him to paint.

His paintings of hunting scenes and loyal hounds adorned the walls of stately houses and palaces such as Versailles. His works later influenced other painters such as Jean-Baptiste Oudry.

And, he has the coolest self-portrait ever.

Leda and the Duck

This next painting is my favorite one! It’s titled ‘Leda and the Duck‘. It was painting in 1905 by Percival Leonard Roussea, and if you have a waterfowl hunter in the family, they’re sure to appreciate this beautiful duck hunting print.

Featuring a beautiful English Setter returning from a pond with a duck gently held in her jaw, this work showcases Roussea’s skill at displaying canine anatomy if you look closely at the musculature details.

Another of Rousseau’s paintings titled simply “Leda” in the collection of the American Kennel Club is believed to feature the same faithful hound.

At his home in Louisiana, he would spend much of his time raising, training, studying, and of course, painting hunting dog art.

After the Shoot

‘After the Shoot‘ is a gorgeous hunting dog portrait painted in 1895 by William Woodhouse. His art conveyed a sort of empathetic and emotional feeling toward working animals.

And, many of his paintings had an almost dreamy, romantic lens through which these hunting and animal paintings were presented to the viewer.

Unfortunately, Woodhouse failed to achieve much commercial success in his lifetime despite his obvious talent. Some blame this on his reluctance to leave the small seaside town in which he resided, but fortunately, we are still here to appreciate his work over 100 years later.

Do Your Worst

This exciting hunting scene painting is quite different from other hunting paintings, which is why I love it so much! Most fox hunting paintings focus on the riders and the chase, but this one focuses on the climax.

A cornered fox makes a final defiant stand in this early 19th century work by painter Alfred William Strutt. It’s one of Strutt’s most memorable works of British sporting art, and one of my favorites.

Strutt was well known for his vivid hunting scenes, showing and commissioning paintings for wealthy Victorian patrons seeking a connection to hunting culture.

Pointer With Quail

‘Pointer with Quail‘ painted in 1890 by Edmund Henry Osthaus is an excellent example of late 19th century sporting art. In this piece, a handsome German Shorthair Pointer returns from the brush with a quail in its mouth.

Othaus painted many beautiful tributes to the faithful hunting dog, and you’ll find several of his hunting dog paintings in our collection.

However, I think this one has something special about it, from the personality of the faithful hound to the autumn background to the grasses jutting up from everywhere. This print would be the perfect gift for a bird dog hunter.