Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S.
(British, 1878-1959)
Lark III, an Irish Setter, 1910
oil on canvas
signed lower right,A.J. MUNNINGS and dated, inscribed lower left LARK III
16 7/8 x 17 1/8in (42.9 x 43.6cm)
Provenance:
The Property of a Deceased Estate, Sold Christies, London, 6 March 1986, lot 166.
With Richard Green, London.
The Property of a Private Collector, Pennsylvania, Sold Sothebys, New York, 2 November 2001, lot 217.

Footnote:
Munnings loved dogs almost as much as he loved horses. Many depictions of dogs are included in his larger scenes and patrons portraits but canine portraits by Munnings are rare in his oeuvre. He and his wife Violet had dogs which they adored, and he frequently mentioned in his memoirs, but he does not mention any of his canine commissions. Several of his dog portrait compositions feature a dog sitting on a chair and all the works truly capture the spirit and personality of the sitter. A portrait of Lady Munnings dog entitled Pekingese seated in one of Munnings armchairs was painted in 1909 and currently in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

We are grateful to Dr Bill Teatheredge, curatorial researcher at The Munnings Art Museum for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.

This work will be included in Tradition and Modernity: the Works of Sir Alfred Munnings by Lorian Peralta-Ramos to be published 2022.

Framed 23 1/2 x 23in.

The painting is heavily varnished. When examined under UV light, there are a few scattered tiny dots of fluorescence around the dogs face, possibly due to pigment rather than restoration. There is light surface dust throughout.