Arthur Wardle (1864-1949)
The disturber of the peace
Signed and inscribed with title to the stretcher bar
Oil on canvas
12 x 16 inches
Provenance: The family of the artist
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An incredibly captivating image of a leopard basking on a rock by a river. Not only is this a very striking study of a magnificent feline but there is also a narrative here with a python disturbing the leopard's peace; his paw turned, ready to swat away the bothersome serpent should he venture forward any further. A beautiful, highly decorative painting presented in its original ornate gilt frame.
Arthur Wardle was a painter of birds and animals, born in London, where he died. Wardle studied privately and at the zoo. He was a prolific exhibitor, showing at RA from 1880–1935; he was a member of Pastel Society, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and Royal British Colonial Society of Artists; and he also showed widely at Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Arthur Tooth and Sons. His first one-man show was at Fine Art Society in 1931. Tate Gallery holds his study Fate, a Chantrey Bequest purchase in 1904. Work also held by Victoria & Albert Museum and Leeds City Art Gallery. He was included in The British Sporting Art Trust’s 1983 show at Alpine Gallery.
Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman