1910 British Fox Terrier Etching “Caesar I Belong to the King” by Herbert Thomas Dicksee

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Herbert Thomas Dicksee (1862-1942) British Fox Terrier Etching “Caesar I Belong To The King”

One of the most popular artists … Read more Herbert Thomas Dicksee (1862-1942) British Fox Terrier Etching “Caesar I Belong To The King”

One of the most popular artists of the Edwardian era, Herbert Dicksee delighted a generation of animal lovers with his whimsical drawings of dogs which remain much in demand with contemporary collectors.
Herbert Thomas Dicksee was born in 1862 into a family already well known for their contribution to the London art scene. Given his family’s stock-in-trade, it was inevitable that Herbert would seek his fortune in the arts. He secured a scholarship to the Slade School of Art at University College London. While at Slade he came under the tutelage of Anglo-French artist Alphonse Legros, whose teachings clearly influenced the development of Dicksee as a renowned master etcher.
Dicksee’s compelling works gained him notable acclaim when he first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1885. That same year, Herbert’s reputation was further enhanced when he was elected to membership of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers.
Dicksee was an avid dog lover, having up to six canine companions in his household, and would often use his own pets as sitters for his most popular and coveted etchings. Herbert would spend many hours at a time working on these endearing and emotive images and the sumptuous attention to detail of each depiction is a major reason for the artist’s enduring appeal. Prints and etchings of his best-known paintings were distributed by prominent publishers such as Klackner of London, and his works remain treasured among collectors and dog enthusiasts today.
Perhaps the most significant work of this time, on offer here, is “Where’s Master”, commissioned by King Edward VII in 1910, the image features the monarch’s favorite terrier Caesar lying fireside in repose by his master’s chair patiently awaiting his return. The intricate detailing and exquisite imaging of this etching are the epitome of the enduring legacy of this masterpiece by Dicksee. In essence, it captures the heart. It is exquisitely framed which further enhances this prominent work.
Herbert Dicksee passed away at the family home he himself designed at Kidderpore Avenue in the North London suburb of Hampstead in 1942, not far short of his 80th birthday. As executor of his will, daughter Dorothy was instructed to destroy the plates used for his etchings, thereby making those cherished works that remain with us even more important and valuable.
“Caesar I Belong To The King” is a rare and intriguing original etching, signed by Dicksee in 1910 attesting to its authenticity. Wherever it is displayed it will be a focal point to treasure and enjoy. See less