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Engraving of Field Spaniels Edward Gilbert Hester (c1843-1903)after a painting by Arthur Wardle RI, RBC. (1864-1969) A large photogravure on India paper by Edward Gilbert Hester (c1843-1903)after the Arthur Wardle RI, RBC. (1864-1969) famous and historical painting of "Field Spaniels of the 20th Century" for the dog food company Spratts.
The dogs pictured "Ch. Preston Shot, (Clumber Spaniel), Dual Ch. Velox Powder, (English Springer Spaniel), Ch. Bob Bowdler (Cocker Spaniel), Ch. Jetsam Bowdler, (Cocker Spaniel), Ch. Shillington Rona, (Field Spaniel) Ch. Druid, (Field Spaniel), Ch. Bridford Bobs, (Sussex Spaniel) and Rosehill Rick (Sussex Spaniel)".
Singed in pencil "Arthur Wardle" and "E G Hester" and lettered "Published by F.Mansell at 1, Orleston Road, Holloway, London, N Copyright 1906, registered"
English, circa 1906
"Dog World 28/03/2008"
"My penultimate piece on the vulnerable British and Irish native breeds features the Field Spaniel, although the picture I have selected also includes the Clumber and Sussex " both on the vulnerable breeds list " the Cocker and the English Springer.
The Clumber is Ch Preston Shot, born in 1901 and who looks nothing like he does in his photograph; the English Springer is FT Ch Velox Powder, bred by Sir Thomas Boughey, Bt one of the founding fathers of the breed; the Cockers are the coloured dog, Ch Bob Bowdler, and the black bitch, Ch Jetsom, owned by R de C Peele, one of the founders of the Cocker Spaniel Club; the Sussex are Ch Bridford Bob and Ch Rosehill Rock and the Field Spaniels are Ch Shillington Rona and Ch Druid. The Fields, the English Springer, the Cockers and the Sussex can all claim common ancestors.
Rona, the liver roan Field bitch, and Druid, the black Field dog, were both owned by H E Gray, about whom Peggy Grayson, in her book The History and Management of the Field Spaniel (1984) wrote: "Will go down in the annals of Field history as one of the most responsible breeders of his time, and one whose dogs feature in the lines up to the present day". Rona was bought by Gray for 40 shillings (2) and was considered by many judges as the best coloured bitch ever seen in the ring.
She quickly attained her title and won over a number of years. She was an ancestor of many celebrated Fields. She was out of Coleshill Concert by Coleshill Climax, whose maternal grandmother was Coleshill Magpie. She was bought by John Smith of Coleshill at Cave's Auction in Birmingham for 40 shillings (was this the going rate at the time for Field Spaniels) and proved to be a good investment as she went on to feature in the pedigrees of many notable winners.
Magpie's paternal grandfather was Alva Dash, who was used by those who bred coloured Cockers as much as he was by breeders of Field Spaniels.
Druid was by Ch Magellan, BOB at Crufts in 1902, out of winning bitch Lambton Trilby. Magellan achieved the double distinction of gaining the title of champion on the bench and winning several prizes at field trials.
At the Spaniel Club field trials he won a third prize in a stake and Col R Claude Cane?s prize of two guineas for the best looking spaniel at the meeting.His sire, Lord Dunnohoo, was considered by many at the time to be one of the best black spaniel dogs who ever lived. Although he won many prizes, Lord Dunnohoo was an unlucky dog for two reasons; first he was a contemporary of the all-conquering Bridford Brilliant, and second that dying in his prime, he never attained the title champion.
My choice of picture, Field Spaniels of the Twentieth Century (as distinct from Water Spaniels), is one of the iconic paintings of gundogs from the early years of the century but my reason for choosing it was that it gave me an opportunity to include in this series of vulnerable breeds a work by Arthur Wardle, one of the great dog artists of all time.
Such is the appeal this picture has that prints of the original painting are still being published today.
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