Rivière Deer Stealers 1875 {1876} NGV [PA]

Rivière, Briton (1840-1920; English)
Deer Stealers pursued by sleuth hounds 1875
Oil on canvas, 99.0 x 135.5 cm
Purchased, 1876 (advice of Alfred Thomson)
National Gallery of Victoria (p.305.7-1)

The artist specialized in paintings of animals. Here, as with Schenck Anguish {1879} NGV [PA], emotion and empathy are focussed in the animals, especially the wounded dog in the foreground.

According to the NGV catalogue, the subject also alludes to protests against laws regarding hunting in England.

Refs.

AR 1876, p.41; NGV 1894, p.41 (I.La Trobe Gallery, no.53; ill.); NGV 1905, p.32 (I.La Trobe Gallery, no.59; ill.) [£700]