Away! Away!
Oil on canvas
72 x 44 7/8 inches sight size, 79 1/2 x 52 3/8 inches framed size
Signed and dated “Blinks/02” lower right
Provenance:
Christie’s New York: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Lot 229, where purchased by the present owner
A version of this subject was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1902, no. 475 and subsequently sold Christie’s, New York, 3 December 1998, lot 174.
Thomas Blinks painted rural and sporting scenes, with a particular focus on hunting and shooting. He was highly regarded for his ability to capture the natural beauty and grace of animals, especially dogs, and for his attention to detail in depicting their behaviour and anatomy.
One of Blinks’ most famous works is “The Dead Shot,” which portrays a hunter and his dogs after a successful day of shooting. The painting exemplifies Blinks’ talent for conveying the excitement and camaraderie of the hunt, as well as his skill in rendering the textures of fur and feathers.
Blinks’ paintings were popular among hunting enthusiasts and members of the British aristocracy, and he received numerous commissions from wealthy patrons. His works were exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where he gained recognition for his talent and craftsmanship.
While Blinks is best known for his paintings of hunting dogs and game birds, he also painted other subjects, including domestic animals, rural landscapes, and genre scenes. His paintings are characterised by their warmth and charm.
Today, Thomas Blinks is remembered as one of the leading sporting artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, celebrated for his ability to capture the spirit of the hunt and the beauty of the natural world.
