481 - Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, RA,

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, RA, British 1802-1873- Sheet of sketches depicting devils, angels and animals, (recto and verso), taken from Landseer’s sketchbook from his stay at Glenquoich; pen and ink on paper, 23.5 x 19 cm. Provenance: Edward Ellice (1771-1863), by descent to Russell Ellice. His sale, Sotheby's, London, 24 June 1971, possibly part of lot 37 or lot 29. With Martyn Gregory, London [VG886]. Note: Best known for his animal paintings, Landseer only occasionally explored caricature and fantasy subjects. His interest in the latter is perhaps best illustrated by his 'Scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania and Bottom', National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne [4658-3]. The present work, with its humorous sketches of devils, angels and animals, is another example of this less familiar side of the artist's work. When Landseer turned to caricature, he most often depicted friends, patrons and members of his social circle. It appears as though these are his friends, in caricature form. This work comes from a sketchbook of studies by Landseer, executed principally between the years 1833 and 1841 and Glenquoich, the hunting lodge belonging to Edward Ellice. The work bears the stamp 'Invergarry' in the top left corner, referring to a district of the Ellices's estate. A horned man in the top of the sketch is holding a letter inscribed 'Glenfeshie', which was the Duke of Bedford's hunting lodge in Scotland. Edward Ellice of Invergarry House, Glengarry, who owned the present work, was one of Landseer's principal patrons, and the artist depicted him in caricature on several occasions. A drawing of Ellice as a robin sold at Christie's, London, on 4 June 2019, lot 9 (£11,875).