The following two lots were part of a monumental task undertaken by Ward to catalogue in paint the various breeds of farm animals. The project was funded by the Agricultural Society, whose patron was John Southey, Lord Somerville. Somerville's greatest agricultural contribution was the improvement of the wool industry. He encouraged the breeding of merino sheep, and an indigenous wool industry was soon thriving. In 1902, a few years after the inception of Ward's cataloguing project, Somerville established his annual show of sheep, cattle and other animals. The structure of the scheme was that Ward should provide a collection of two hundred accurate portraits of the main breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs, for which he would be paid fifteen guineas a piece. Although an large task the project gave Ward access to a host of important landed patrons such as the King and Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford.

James Ward, R.A. (British, 1769-1859)

Elman's South Down Ram, Ewe and Wether

Details

James Ward, R.A. (British, 1769-1859)
Elman's South Down Ram, Ewe and Wether
signed with monogram (lower right) and stamped 'JW' (on the reverse)
oil on panel
18 x 24 in. (45.8 x 60.8 cm.)

Provenance

J.A. Tooth, London.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 13 May 1983, lot 90.
with Lane Fine Art, London.
Mr. John Kluge, Morven Farms, Virginia from whom purchased by the present owner.

Sale Room Notice

Please note this is pencil and oil on panel and not as stated in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

John Ellman (1753-1852) lived at Glynde in Sussex. In 1778 he started to improve a breed of sheep which had flourished on the Downs since William the Conqueror. He called it the South Down and this breed was used for all other Down breeds. In 1829, he declined a peerage and retired, and his friends, including the Duke of Bedford, Coke of Norfolk and Jonas Webb, gave him a silver tureen surmounted by a South Down sheep, inscribed 'To John Ellman of Glynde, Esq., on his retiring from the farm on which for half a century his devotion of himself to the interests of agriculture; as a token of their sincere regard and a tribute to his improving and extending throughout the British Empire the breed of South Down sheep and his much admired conduct to his labourers, this piece of plate is presented by a number of agriculturalists and friends.' He was buried at Glynde.

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