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1900's Original Muslin Tapestry Painting Sportsman Hunter Reloading Shotgun w/ English Pointer Dog

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:25.00 - 500,000.00 USD
1900's Original Muslin Tapestry Painting Sportsman Hunter Reloading Shotgun w/ English Pointer Dog
Measures 41" wide by 56" tall. This beautiful painting depicts a sportsman reloading his shotgun, in a woodland scene with his pointer dog ready for his command. This piece closely resembles A.B. Frost's original cover sketch part of his 1895 publication "Shooting Pictures", Charles Scribner's Sons Binding of the Portfolio booklet, as well as "The Sporting Art of Arthur Burdett Frost" by Colleen F. Storey, James A. Casada, Ph.D. and Charles Wechsler on page 145. Part of the Vandling mansion wallpaper collection.

This remarkable collection of six original paintings (lots 745 through 750), believed to be the work of renowned American artist A.B. Frost, once adorned the walls of a grand mansion in Scranton, Pennsylvania owned by Frank M. Vandling, a prominent Postmaster General of the late 19th century. These extraordinary pieces are referenced in a newspaper article in The Scranton Tribune on July 7, 1900, describing the Vandling home with "walls being entirely covered by tapestry, and paintings of hunting scenes. The work was done by a well-known New York artist and is complete in interest both from the beauty of execution and the excellence of subject. Several of the pictures are the spirited clever ones by Frost."

Each piece in this collection was masterfully painted on muslin, showcasing hunting and animal scenes that epitomize the genteel sporting life of the East Coast during that era. Separated in the mansion by mahogany columns and detailed molding, the paintings vary in size and were likely painted off-site with specific wall measurements provided to the artist. A unique number was placed on the reverse of each painting that is believed to correspond to a specific wall location in the room. Due to this unique installation method, no artist signatures have been discovered. It is speculated that signatures may have been placed at the bottom of each painting or on one lone piece, subsequently concealed by ornamental mahogany panels and trim, but potentially removed during the extraction process. The paintings were removed from the mansion before its demolition, preserving a unique slice of American artistic and cultural history. This feature adds to their individual allure, charm, and historical significance.

Arthur Burdett Frost (1851-1928), a Pennsylvania native, was celebrated for his illustrative works, particularly in capturing sporting scenes for Winchester. He worked with well-known publishers in New York, including Harper & Brothers, where he collaborated with illustrators such as Howard Pyle, E. W. Kemble, Frederic Remington, and C. S. Reinhart. Frost's illustrations appeared in prominent magazines like Harper's Weekly, Punch, and Scribner's. His passion for hunting, shooting, and golf frequently influenced his work. In recognition of his contributions to American art, Frost was posthumously inducted into the Society of Illustration Hall of Fame in 1985.
CONDITION
Tapestry does show remnants of glue as used for wallpaper on the back. Color is fading due to age and exposure.