W. Wise, Sleeping Hound with a Plumed Helmet, 1880, Etching

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A large hound lies fast asleep on a rumpled fur or straw bedding, curled around on itself with its long … Read more A large hound lies fast asleep on a rumpled fur or straw bedding, curled around on itself with its long ears spilling forward over its forepaws and its tail sweeping in a wide arc across the foreground. The heavy head rests on one outstretched leg, the eyes closed, the loose skin of the brow and muzzle drawn in fine, soft lines. Behind the dog, in deep shadow, hangs a dark helmet with a raised visor and a sweeping plume, and a curved shape suggests a shield or further pieces of armor against the wall. The contrast between the relaxed animal and the hard, martial objects behind it gives the scene a quiet, storytelling note, as if the hound were guarding its absent master's gear. The plate is signed "W. WISE Sc." in small capitals at the lower left, the mark of William Wise, an English etcher active in the 1870s and 1880s who made both original plates and etchings after paintings for the illustrated art press. No painter's name and no title are lettered on this sheet. This is an etching with a rich, painterly surface. Wise builds the dark interior from layers of crosshatching, models the dog's coat with long flowing strokes that follow the form, and leaves the bedding pale and loosely drawn so the sleeping figure glows at the center of the composition. The plate mark is visible around the image. Dog lovers will enjoy it in a den, a country kitchen or a hallway by the door where leashes hang, perhaps in a warm wood frame with an ivory mat. Condition: Age toning, darker at the edges; handling soiling along the edges and scattered foxing in the margins. Printed image clean. This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed. See less