This late 19th-century oil painting attributed to British artist Edgar Armfield (1855-1904) depicts two wide-eyed boisterous terriers standing to attention, waiting for a rabbit to emerge. Nestled into a grassy bank with a glimpse of the sea beyond, it’s a popular Victorian image. It’s signed J Langlois, which we believe to be a pseudonym.
During the 19th century, animal paintings were particularly sought after, both with the aristocracy and the rising middle classes. Numerous artists worked in this genre but only a handful specialised in ‘rabbiting’ and ‘ratting’. George Armfield (1808-1893) was one of the finest, producing an array of lively portrayals, primarily featuring terriers and spaniels but also the occasional beagle or fox. Underpinning Armfield’s ability with the brush was an innate connection to animals. His house was a veritable zoo and he famously owned a bull terrier named ‘Billy’. It’s said that he was somewhat akin to a ‘horse whisperer’.
A frequent guest at country homes, he was a remarkably accomplished horseman and was often commissioned by the gentry to paint stabled mares and gun dogs. This popularity led to a fruitful career with numerous dealers also seeking to employ his talents.
The artist known as ‘J Langlois’ worked in a very similar style, echoing George Armfield’s compositions on numerous occasions. However, very little is known about him. He’s reputed to have lived between 1855 and 1904, but this is unlikely as these dates relate to a carpenter by the same name. John James Langlois lived in London and in the 1871/1881 censuses both he and his father recorded their occupations as ‘Painter’. However, given that they both reverted back to ‘Carpenter’, it’s more likely they were house painters.
Newspaper advertisements by dealers and auctioneers refer to Langlois between 1871 and 1880, so we can assume these are his ‘flourished’ dates. But beyond 1880, there’s no sight of him. With this in mind, it’s interesting that in 1880, George Armfield pursued legal action against Mr. F. C. Unwin, picture dealer, of Sherborne Lane, for selling pictures that were comparable in his style to his own, yet were by his son Edgar Armfield (1857-1935). Edgar’s works are interchangeable with those of J Langlois and it’s our assertion that the two are the same. If so, he would’ve worked as Langlois between the ages of 14 and 23. His style evolved somewhat over the years and this is a good example.
Edgar Armfield later developed a reputable career in his own right and lived in London with his wife and ten children. Like his father, he specialised in sporting dogs, especially terriers as we see here. He’s represented in several public collections including Brighton Museum and the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Signed J Langlois in the lower left and held in a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 18½” x 14½” / 47cm x 37cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Labels & Inscriptions: Gallery label on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in excellent condition.
Artist’s auction maximum: £5,000 for ‘Young Ghillie with Garron, Pointer, English Setter and Two Deerhounds’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, Glasgow, 1990 (lot 211).
Our reference: BRV1907
