{"product_id":"elders-at-the-kirk-by-edwin-douglas","title":"Elders at the Kirk by Edwin Douglas","description":"Edwin Douglas\u003cbr\u003e 1848-1914 | Scottish \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eElders at the Kirk\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed and dated “E Douglas \/ 1907” (lower left)\u003cbr\u003e Oil on canvas \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A tender and highly engaging work by Edwin Douglas, \u003cem\u003eElders at the Kirk\u003c\/em\u003e reveals the artist at his best, bringing two noble collies to life with warmth and extraordinary painterly softness. Painted in 1907, the composition unites Douglas’ hallmark warmth, technical refinement and gentle narrative charm. With its quiet church interior and two dignified collies, the work captures the sentimental spirit that makes Victorian and Edwardian animal painting so beloved among British collectors. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Douglas renders the dogs with remarkable tenderness and individuality. One collie sits upright with calm attentiveness, while the other rests in the foreground with an expressive, almost human gaze. Their lustrous coats are painted in rich tones of chestnut, russet, white and deep brown, contrasting beautifully with the cool stone floor and soft white drapery of the baptismal font behind them. Details such as the church notice on the wall, the worn Bible at right and the heavy green door lend the scene a quiet sense of place, transforming the painting from a simple animal portrait into a touching genre scene. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Born in Edinburgh to the portrait painter James Douglas, Edwin Douglas studied at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools and exhibited there for the first time at only 17 years old. He went on to exhibit widely, including at the Royal Academy from 1869 to 1900, where he showed more than 40 works. Though he painted portraits, sporting subjects and rural genre scenes, Douglas became especially admired for his depictions of animals, particularly dogs, which he portrayed with the soft expressions and emotional resonance associated with the great Sir Edwin Landseer. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Douglas enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime, attracting distinguished patrons including Sir Charles Tennant and Queen Victoria, who purchased one of his setter paintings as a birthday gift for the future King Edward VII. His works remain admired for their refined technique, affectionate observation and enduring vision of British rural life. Today, Douglas’ paintings are represented in notable collections, including Tate Britain and the Royal Collection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dated 1907 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Canvas: 37 1\/8” high x 24 1\/8” wide (94.30 x 61.28 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 112.40” high x 78.74“ wide x 3 1\/2\" deep (112.40 x 78.74 x 8.89 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, Australia\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, United States\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45155647914119,"sku":"32-2893","price":98850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2893_1.png?v=1783516815","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/elders-at-the-kirk-by-edwin-douglas","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}