oil on canvas, unsigned, a stencil to verso reads "From / A S Robinson's / Looking Glass Portrait / & Picture Frame / Manufactors / 910 Chesnut St. Philada" and "Julius Scholz / No. 115 S. 8th Street / Philada," later frame.
SS 31.75 x 45 in.; DOA 35 x 48 in.
In addition to the signed copy of On the Wing exhibited at the annual exhibition of the National Academy of Design in 1850, now in a private collection, there are at least three other unsigned copies attributed to Ranney. One of these copies bears the same stencil for the artist supply store of Julius Scholz as exhibited on the present painting. However, that painting does not include the stencil for A. S. Robinson of Philadelphia, a prominent gallery on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.

On the Wing was met with much acclaim and was distributed by lottery to John Brodhead of Philadelphia, PA. As Ranney was known to have painted speculatively for art-unions and galleries, it is conceivable that he painted multiple copies of his most well known composition. In 1857 an auction by Thomas & Sons of Philadelphia of the stock of Mr. A. S. Robinson at his store, No. 910 Chestnut Street, included one painting by Mr. Ranney titled Prairie Hunter. The auction catalogue describes the painting as "a fine specimen of an artist who has won fame by his skill in depicting similar scenes." Further support for the attribution is that this painting does not feature the "corrected" ears and addition of the flock of ducks as depicted in the engraving by Charles Burt.

Additional high-resolution photos are available at LelandLittle.com

Extensive cleavage from heat damage; patches to verso.