Arthur Wardle, R.I., R.B.C.

Royal Academy, 1916, no.539

Original canvas. The work appears in very good overall condition, clean and ready to hang. Ultraviolet light reveals a few flecks of retouching in the sky upper right and also some cosmetic retouching around the rocks immediately under the centre of the belly of the foreground leopard, one small line of which may relate to an old abrasion/tear approx. 2cm. long. Not visible to the naked eye. Held in a dark stained wood frame with a gilt surround.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Arthur Wardle was the finest animal painter of his generation, specialising in painting dogs and big cats. Leopards were a favourite subject for him and he painted a series of images of them in the first few decades of the twentieth century. He depicted leopards cavorting with a priestess of Bacchus in A Bacchante of 1909, entraced by The Enchantress of 1915 (Christie's, 7 November 1997, lot 170)  in combat in Leopards Fighting of 1911 and several pictures of them hunting game. In the present picture he captured a pair of Indian leopards on a rocky mountainside hunting wary sambar deer who appear to have caught the scent of their pursuers.