"King and Queen"; "Repose"

CUTHBERT EDMUND SWAN

1870-1931 

English School

“King and Queen”; “Repose”

Oil on board, a pair, each signed, inscribed on reverse

17.3 x 22.2 cms

6¾ x 83/4 inches

Overall framed size 23 x 27.8 cms

                                 9 x 11 ins

Although born in Ireland on 11th January, 1870, Swan was educated at Seaford College. He was the son of the eminent painter and sculptor John Macallan Swan R.A. who spent considerable time at London Zoo studying and drawing animals there, particularly the big cats.

Before becoming an artist and teacher of animal drawings for L C C School of Arts and Crafts, Cuthbert Swan had been a sailor and a scene painter.

He specialised in animal working in oils, watercolours and pastels to produce his paintings and, despite working in India for a while, spent most of his life in Hampstead. He became a member of the Feline School.

He exhibited 66 times in England at the Royal Academy (from 1893) and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters plus others at the Paris Salon, with titles such as "Bagheera, the black Panther", Duke - a study of a lion; Jaguars at Play and Puma and cubs. His brother Edwin was a portrait painter.

Examples of his work can be seen in Birmingham Museum -"Tiger and Prey", "Bury Art Museum - "Leopard Cubs" and Lladudno Museum which has seven works including "Otter Hounds" and "Leopard".





Bibliography

Dictionary of British Animal Painters - J.C. Wood

Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900-1950 - Grant Waters

Dictionary of Victorian Painters - Christopher Wood

Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940 - Johnson and Greutzner