Follower of Jean-Baptiste Oudry, French 1686-1755- A dog attacking swans in an extensive Dutch landscape; oil on canvas, bears old labels attached to the reverse of the frame, 77.5 x 70 cm. Provenance: Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 22 July 1929...

Follower of Jean-Baptiste Oudry, French 1686-1755- A dog attacking swans in an extensive Dutch landscape; oil on canvas, bears old labels attached to the reverse of the frame, 77.5 x 70 cm. Provenance: Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 22 July 1929, lot 151 (as A. Hondius).; Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 14 June 1946, lot 120 (as A. Hondius).; Anon. sale, Bonhams Knightsbridge, 6 July 1995, lot 89.; Private Collection, UK. Note: The present work is based on an original oil by Oudry, dated 1731, and housed in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneva [no. 1953-0015]. The clash between the dog and the swan is here executed with great realism, noticeable both in the expression and in the anatomy of the animals. The aggressive nature of the dog contrasts with the determination of the swan, which defends not only its own life, but also that of another swan, standing in the reeds. The scene has a vitality to it: it seems alive, yet without being cruel or sentimental, and this balance is enhanced by the colours of the setting sun bathing the dramatic moment in a warm glow. The theme of a dog attacking animals is common in 17th-century Dutch animal art, and indeed it was one of Oudry’s favourite motifs. Abraham Hondius (1625-1695), too, frequently adopted the subject matter for his paintings. We are grateful to Dr Fred Meijer for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.