The Last Stand: A Bear Besieged by Hounds

English School, 19th Century – In the Manner of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885) 🎨🐾

Subject & Medium

This dramatic 19th-century English School oil on panel painting depicts a rare and visceral hunting subject: a bear, cornered and desperate, under attack from a frenzied pack of hounds.
Unlike the more familiar fox or stag hunts, the choice of a bear hunt is highly unusual in Victorian Britain, making this a striking survival. The scene echoes Flemish masters such as Paul de Vos and Abraham Hondius, whose works inspired English artists fascinated by exotic struggles and the theatre of nature.

Composition & Technique

• Design – The bear rises as a dark vertical force, resisting the circling diagonals of the snarling hounds.

• Colour – Warm ochres and earthy browns dominate, with flashes of white fur intensifying the action; subdued greens and greys in the woodland backdrop heighten the central drama.

• Brushwork – Quick, vigorous strokes animate fur and motion; denser layers define the bear’s mass, while the softly blended sky contrasts with the tension of the fight.

• Style – Anatomical precision fused with theatrical energy, reflecting the influence of Richard Ansdell.

Though modest in size, the panel radiates the power of a monumental canvas, designed for intimate cabinet display.

About the Artist

Executed in the manner of Richard Ansdell (1815–1885):

• Liverpool-born animal and sporting painter.

• Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1840; elected full Academician in 1870.

• Rivalled Sir Edwin Landseer, yet leaned toward visceral vitality over sentimentality.

• Celebrated for hounds, stags, otters, and predator-prey combat scenes.

This panel reflects Ansdell’s wide influence, where even provincial artists adopted his muscular style to satisfy Victorian collectors’ taste for drama.

Frame & Presentation 🖼️

• Frame: New Larson-Juhl “Imperial” reverse-profile gold-leaf moulding.

• 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 📜

• 19th-century English School.

• Framer’s label verso: A. & E. Beer, Picture Framing Specialists, Southampton.

• Local Hampshire/Southampton ownership.

• Consigned to a notable Dorset auction house.

• Exhibited at the Lord Hill Museum.

• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Significance 🌟

• Rare Subject – Bear hunting is almost absent in English School painting.

• Cultural Value – Captures Victorian fascination with the exotic and feral.

• Collector Appeal – Historic resonance, intimate scale, and association with Ansdell’s circle.

Condition Report 🔎

• Panel: Stable.

• Paint: Craquelure consistent with age; minor losses on raised details; slight rubbing on dogs’ muzzles.

• Varnish: Warm, aged, uneven gloss; could benefit from cleaning.

• Frame: Pristine, newly crafted.

• Overall: Fair to good condition; patina enhances authenticity, with potential for further vibrancy if cleaned.

Why Collect It ❤️

✅ Rare subject seldom seen in English School works.
✅ Monumental energy condensed into cabinet scale.
✅ Solid provenance and exhibition history.
✅ Luxury Larson-Juhl Imperial gold-leaf frame with museum glass.

A jewel of Victorian sporting art, The Last Stand: A Bear Besieged by Hounds embodies violence, vitality, and spectacle—an electrifying survival for the discerning collector.

glass cover.

Shipping

Worldwide Shipping Available — Professionally packaged and fully insured for secure international delivery.

Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD — Inquire now to secure this unique piece