John Bucknell Russell (British, 1819-1893)
Salmon leap on the Spey
signed and dated 'John Russell/1884' (lower left)
oil on canvas
115 x 183.5cm (45 1/4 x 72 1/4in).
Footnotes:
John Russell, a Scottish painter born in Edinburgh and raised in Aberdeen, painted sporting scenes mainly of fish and fishing scenes. In the 1870s Russell moved with his children to Fochabers, a village located on the east bank of the River Spey. Here he carried out sporting commissions from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon and for visitors to Castle Gordon, a large hunting and fishing estate on the Spey. Lord Lovatt in Inverness also commissioned works by Russell, and he regularly exhibited works at the Royal Scottish Academy.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP
TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.

The canvas has not been lined, it is loose on the stretcher and buckles in places as a result. There are three small spot repairs in the lower half of the painting visible verso, all of which are also visible recto.

There is a tear of approximately 3 by 2.5 cm to the canvas in the upper right corner. There is a pin hole damage to one of the figures on the centre right with some associated paint loss. There are a few small scuffs and scratches throughout.

Under raking light, faint stretcher marks are visible. There is some minor frame rubbing in places.

There is a dirty varnish layer and some surface dirt. The work may benefit from a light clean.

UV light reveals three spots of retouching to the aforementioned repairs. There are scattered patches of fluorescence which appear to be retouching but a reflective layer of varnish of making reading difficult.