Arthur Wardle painting of French bulldogs, c1910
The painting measures 15.5 inches x 19.5 inches.
Including frame, the total dimensions are 26.25 inches x 30.5 inches.


Davids notes: This is a clear masterpiece by one of Englands greatest animal painters, who was a boy prodigy artist. Wardle was able to paint at age 16 with the skill that many artists don't acquire until they reach the age of 80, with almost no training. The work is signed in the lower right hand corner by the artist and was discovered in an auction house in the United States last year, miscatalogued as an American work, and catalogued as unsigned. David Killen Gallery recognized the importance of the work and from a light cleaning the signature was revealed.David Killen Gallery had a small hole and a minor abrasion professionally repaired, both about the size of a dime, appearing between the two dogs in an unimportant part of the painting.The work had notes written in pencil on the stretcher that it was once restored by Alexandra Van Hawk, professional restorer, but what restoration was done is unknown.
The work shows two French bulldogs at the top of a staircase, as if summoned or excited where they suddenly stop by what they see in front of them. The staircase is covered by an outstanding depiction of a thick Persian carpet, that his held down by brass or bronze bars that have decorative weights at the end. The probable time period for the painting is 1880 to 1920, although it does not appear to have been dated. The canvas, stretcher and frame all seem to be from the late 19th,early 20th century time period.

Wardles dog paintings have sold at auction from 800.00 up to 20,000.00, but usually sell between 800.00 and 5000.00.

A nice motif, a single flower rests on the staircase above the Wardle signature and a single flower petal lies nearby.

(Wiki)Arthur Wardle (1864 to 1949) was a British painter. Born in London, aged just sixteen Wardle had a piece displayed at the Royal Academy. His first exhibit was a study of cattle by the River Thames, leading to a lifelong interest in painting animals. In 1880 Wardle lived in Oakley Square, Camden, but artistic success enabled him to move to the more upmarket 34 Alma Square in St John's Wood by 1892. Wardle was prolific; until 1936 he exhibited more than 100 works at the Royal Academy, as well as the Society of British Artists at Suffolk Street. He painted a variety of animal subjects with equal skill but his work may be divided into two categories, domestic and exotic; animals from overseas including leopards, polar bears and tigers such as The Deer-Stealer (1915) were painted from sketches that he made at London Zoo. He is considered equally proficient in oils, watercolours and pastels and was elected to the Pastel Society in 1911 and became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1922. In 1931 he held his first one-man exhibition at the Fine Art Society and in 1935 the Vicars Gallery put on an exhibition of his work. He also exhibited in Paris. By 1936 Wardle had moved to West London. His career was highly successful and his works continue to be sought after and widely reproduced on postcards, calendars and boxes of chocolates. He remains one of the widely known dog painters of the 19th and 20th centuries, and he is particularly known for his paintings of terriers. Wardle painted what is probably the best known painting of the fox terrier in its modern form, The Totteridge XI (1897). The painting was commissioned by famed smooth fox terrier breeder Francis Redmond; Wardle painted a number of Redmond's dogs. The original is in the gallery of The Kennel Club in London. Arthur Wardle died on 16 July 1949.

Good condition overall.Minor restoration to the right of the second bulldog between the dog and the frame, about the size of a small coin.A second restoration, again about the size of a small coin between the two dogs at shoulder height, barely visible.Pencil notes on the stretcher and the frame states there was past restoration by Alexandra Van Hawk,professional restorer, but what restoration was done in the past 50 years is unknown.