Greyhounds Coursing a Hare (also known as Running, a Coursing Scene)
Painting on panel • Dean Wolstenholme the Elder (1757–1837)
Style & Movement
British Sporting Art / Romanticism
Medium & Technique
Oil on panel with glazing and fine-line detail execution for the anatomical features of the animals.
Creation Period
Circa early 19th century
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 40 x 50 cm; Landscape format
Subject Description
The scene depicts two greyhounds, one white and one black, in full gallop pursuing a hare to the left of the composition. A huntsman in a top hat on horseback is visible in the middle ground on a ridge. The background features a panoramic landscape under an atmospheric, clouded sky typical of the English countryside.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; significant craquelure is visible across the panel surface, particularly in the sky and dark foreground areas.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $8,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $6,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely from an English country house collection; the work is characteristic of private commissions for sporting enthusiasts in the early 1800s.
Art Historical Significance
Wolstenholme is a key figure in the development of British sporting art. This work is significant for its depiction of coursing, a popular aristocratic pastime, and showcases the artist's skill in capturing animal anatomy and movement.
Notable Features
The distinctive elongated 'flying gallop' pose of the dogs, a common convention before the invention of high-speed photography, and the luminous quality of the horizon line.
Condition Issues
Prominent horizontal and vertical craquelure; evidence of minor surface abrasions; yellowing of the varnish layer which obscures the original cool tones of the sky.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning to remove aged varnish, stabilization of the paint layer to prevent flaking, and placement in a climate-controlled environment to minimize further panel movement.
Collector Notes
The painting in the selected region is Greyhounds Coursing a Hare (also known as Running, a Coursing Scene) by the prominent British sporting artist Dean Wolstenholme the Elder (1757–1837).oil on panel circa