PAINTINGS BY THE LATE Je H. DOLPH, N-A: AMERICAN ART GALLERIES MADISON SQUARE SOUTH NEW YORK LIBRARY M. KNOEDLER & CO. 556-8 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK \ i -—— ON FREE VIEW FROM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, UNTIL THE DAY OF SALE, INCLUSIVE THE J. H. DOLPH, N.A. COLLECTION TO BE SOLD AT ABSOLUTE PUBLIC SALE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY EVENINGS, FEBRUARY 15TH AND 16TH AT THE AMERICAN ART GALLERIES BEGINNING EACH EVENING AT 8.30 O'CLOCK Se ie CO ste eS CATALOGUE OF PAINTINGS BY THE LATE J. . DOLPH, N-A: TO BE SOLD AT UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC SALE BY ORDER OF JOSEPH S. WOOD, ESQ., AND JOHN ORTGIES, ESQ., EXECUTORS AT THE AMERICAN ART GALLERIES MADISON SQUARE SOUTH ON THE EVENINGS HEREIN STATED THE SALE WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THOMAS E. KIRBY OF THE AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION, MANAGERS NEW YORK: 1904 Press of J. J. Little & Co., Astor Place, New York. LUNA Earn CONDL 1. Ph Le between tr J highest Bidder to be the Buyer, and if any dispute arise co or more Bidders, the Lot so in dispute shall be im- judgment, likely to affect the Sale injuriously. 8. The Purchasers to give their names and addresses, and to pay down a cash deposit, er the whole of the Purchase-monsy, it required, in default of which the Lot or Lots so purchased to be immediately put up again and re-scld. 4. The Lots io be taken away at the Buyer's Hapense and Bish upon the conclusion of the Sale, and the remainder of the Purchase-money to be absolutely paid, or otherwise settled for to the satisfaction of the Auctioneer, on or before delivery; im default of which the undersigned will not hold themselves respon- sible if the Lots be lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, but they will be left ot the sole risk of the Purchaser. 5. While the undersigned will not hold themselves responsible for the correctness of the description, genuineness, or authen- ticity of, or any fault or defect in, any Lot, and make no War- ranty whatever, they will, upon receiving previous to date of Sale trustworthy expert opinion in writing that any Painting or other Work of Art is not what it is represented to be, use every effort on their part to furnish proof to the contrary; fail- ing in which, the object or objects in question will be seld subject to the declaration of the aforesaid expert, he being liable to the Qwner or Owners thereof, for damage cr injury eccasioned thereby. 6. To prevent inaccuracy in delivery, and inconvenience in the settlement of the Purchases, no Lot can, on any account, be re- moved during the Sale. %. Upon failure to comply with the above conditions, the money deposited in part payment shall be forfeited; all Lots uncicared within one day from conclusion of Sale shall be re-sold by public or private saic, without further notice, and the deficiency (if any) attending such re-sale shall be made good by the defaulter at this Sale, together with all charges attending the same. This Con- dition is without prejudice to the right of the Auctioneer to en- force the contract made at this Sale, without such ve-sale, if he thinks fit. Tur AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION, Manasrrs THOMAS E. KIRBY, AucrionErr JOHN H. DOLPH, N.A. Mr. Dolph began his career as an artist in 1852, when he was only seventeen years of age. By nature quick and comprehensive, he essayed nearly every kind of sub- ject which appeals to a man with artistic instincts, work- ing toward an ever-widening horizon. At an early age he went to Detroit, and there began his artistic career. Later he took up portrait painting in Cleveland; but a fast-growing ambition sought a wider field, hence in 1863 he took a studio in New York City. His natural bent led to the painting of scenes of American farm life, and in these he found his admira- tion of animal life growing stronger and stronger. For this reason he went to Antwerp in 1870 and stud- ied with Louis Van Kuyck. On his return to New York, in 1877, he was made an Associate of the National Academy. Mr. Dolph’s remarkable versatility produced a com- bination of qualities rarely found in the work of any but a thorough artist; and hence it is that all parts of his pictures are relatively true, and of equal artistic strength. He not only excelled as an animal painter, but was also successful as a genre painter. In 1880 he went to Paris and turned his attention to figure painting. He was especially successful in his architectural ef- fects, and in the accessories of furniture and rich dra- peries. With rare skill he catches the sheen and glint of metal, the play of light on silk or satin, the bloom on a velvet gown, or the glow on the turn of an Oriental rug. From Paris he went to Rome in 1882, and for some time thereafter remained on the Continent. Mr. Dolph was one of the organizers of the Society of American Arts in 1878, and was one of the contribu- tors to its first exhibition. In 1898 he was elected a Member of the National Academy. His greatest successes as an artist have been his pic- tures of dogs and cats. In this field he was a master of extraordinary ability. His cats and kittens are not models for a picture; but every canvas has, in addition to its technical value, some characteristic of the animal, some subtle expression or inspiration, which has been seized and recorded with fidelity and truth. Although the details and surroundings are drawn with great skill and painted with a masterly hand, so that the beauty of the picture is greatly enhanced thereby, the story to be told is always predominant, no matter how beautiful the setting or how rich the coloring. It was by means of his love for animals and his under- standing, not merely of their ways of living, but of their very natures, that his success as an animal painter was achieved. Through the medium of the manifold phases of dog and cat life he expresses a kindly humor, a delightful play of fancy, which was typical of the man, and which gives his pictures a charm no merely faithful represen- tation of the animal could render. CATALOGUE FIRST EVENING’S SALE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 57H, 1904 AT THE AMERICAN ART GALLERIES BEGINNING PROMPTLY AT 8.30 o’cLOCK 1—THE FIRST LESSON A mother eat has given her kitten a mouse to play with, and watches with maternal interest the little tragedy. : Height, 10 inches; length, 14 inches. 2—WHAT IS IT? A black and white kitten in full sunlight on a garden path alertly gazes out of the picture. Be- hind are flower pots and foliage. Height, 14 inches; width, 10 inches. i ] | | | | 3—A CASUS BELLI A terrier puppy has been interrupted in his meal by a very aggressive cat, and a conflict appears imminent. Height, 10 inches; length, 14 inches. 4—THE SALUTATION A pure white kitten gambolling about with a brown and white companion makes a gesture sug- gesting the title of the picture. In the background are a ginger pot and a Japanese jar. Height, 8 inches; length, 12 inches. 5—THE SENTINEL A group of one old cat and two kittens nestled closely together is watched over by a third kitten sitting near by, all on a yellow damask cushion. Height, 14 inches; length, 20 inches. 6—THE PROUD MOTHER A sleek seal-brown and white cat sits in an atti- tude of dignified pride, while her three tiny kit- tens play near by. In the background is a stool and a dull green curtain. Height, 12 inches; width, 12 wmches. 7—THE EMPTY SAUCER A mother cat and her three kittens, one of whom is pure white, gather near an empty saucer on the floor in anticipation of a meal. Height, 14 inches; length, 18 inches. 8—THE WRESTLERS Two brown and white kittens, half grown and full of mischief, are having an active wrestling bout on a polished floor. Height, 11 inehes; length, 14 inches. 9—PLAYFUL KITTENS In front of a gilt sofa with red damask cushion, two brown and white half-grown kittens are hay- ing a boxing match. Height, 12 inches; length, 16 inches. 10—CAT FAMILY Three kittens tumbling over the mother cat in play. A hamper stands in the background, and a Turkish rug is on the floor. Height, 14 inches; length, 20 inches. 11—BROKEN REPOSE A cat and her three kittens, one of them brown, the others gray, have been sleeping on a yellow damask cushion, and a sudden noise has awakened the anxious mother and one of the small ones. Height, 12 inches; length, 16 inches. 12—AFTER BREAKFAST The old cat and her two half-grown kittens are taking a meal from a saucer, and she languidly watches the antics of the kittens as they roll about on the rug. Height, 14 inches; length, 18 inches. 13—IN THE HALL A walnut cassone, on which are various rich ob- jects in metal, porcelain and glass, is the prominent object in the composition. In front of the chest is an antique chair with a sleeping cat, and on the left is a large brass jar on an iron standard. Height, 14 inches; length, 20 inches. 14—FAIN WOULD I CLIMB Two brown and white kittens from the safe refuge of a yellow satin sofa defy a fat brown puppy, who does not venture to attack the citadel. Height, 16 inches; width, 12 inches. 15—THE MASTIFF’S WARD A huge yellow and white mastiff, lying in an at- titude of easy repose with head erect, guards with a placid expression a small foxhound PUPPY who nestles close beside him. Height, 12 inches; length, 16 inches. 16—FOR SALE Two shaggy puppies much interested in the world since they have been taken out of their basket, eagerly watch the approach of some one, probably a purchaser. Height, 14 inches; length, 18 inches. 17—A TRIO Three kittens are resting after their play on a rich, stuffed cushion, but will soon be ready for another gambol. Height, 12 inches; length, 16 inches. 18—FAIR. PLAY Two kittens are romping after the manner of their kind, while the third, who is about to enter the game, will be prevented by the mother cat from interfering. Height, 13 inches; length, 17 inches. 1I—GOOD FRIENDS A pug puppy is quietly lying on a green stuffed chair close by a large cat, who apparently enjoys his company. Height, 11 inches; length, 17 inches. 20—A GUARDSMAN Standing with drawn sword in his right hand, and holding a standard with his left, is a soldier of the time of Louis XIII, clad in buff coat and full velvet breeches, gorget and helmet. Leight, 18 inches; width, 11 inches. 21—AT THE ANTIQUARIAN’S A young man in late eighteenth-century cos- tume is seated at a table in a bric-i-brac shop ex- amining a piece of jewelry with a magnifying glass. The old Hebrew proprietor is about to bring out a picture for the visitor’s inspection. Height, 14 inches; length, 18 inches. 22—SLEEPING BEAUTIES Out of six fat little puppies in one litter only one is awake, and he not very wide awake. The others are sleeping peacefully. Height, 18 inches; length, 24 inches. 23—FLANKED There has been a wild game on a large cush- ion, and the most active of the four kittens engaged in it attacks the group from the flank. The mother cat is indifferent to the noise and the bustle. Height, 18 inches; length, 24 inches. 24—THE FIRST FAMILY A young mother with her three kittens are en- joying the comforts of a carpet and soft furniture. One of the kittens is on a hassock, the other two playing on the floor. Height, 18 inches; length, 24 inches. 25—PUG AND SPANIEL A silky-coated red and white spaniel is lying full length on a table draped with red, beside a pug, who sits erect and looks out of the picture. Height, 15 inches; length, 20 inches. 26—THE WATCHFUL MOTHER While her three kittens are absorbed in play, the old mother cat, always alert, is apparently startled by the approach of some one. In the foreground is a saucer, and in the background a gilded stool and a piece of furniture with brass mounts. Height, 18 inches; length, 24 inches. 27—A NEIGHBORLY CALL Two puppies, who have taken possession of an old basket, are interested in the presence of two kittens who have strayed thither, and apparently welcome them. Height, 18 inches; length, 24 inches. 28—AFTER LUNCHEON A tabouret placed conveniently near a luncheon table tempts three kittens to climb up to the lofty perch, and a fourth is busy tearing a book to pieces at the feet of a solemn old cat. Height, 16 inches; width, 12 inches. 29—A LITTER OF PIGS Lying in a spot of sunlight on the soft straw litter of a large sty are eight small pigs of differ- ent colors, all asleep after the manner of their kind. Height, 10 inches; length, 17 inches. 30—A WATCHFUL MOTHER A setter lying at full length, with head erect, is keeping jealous watch over a litter of six small puppies, four of whom are nestled together in a basket. Height, 20 inches; length, 30 inches. 31—A BREAKFAST PARTY A little girl lying on a veranda is feeding a cat and three kittens from a small tin pan on the ground. At her elbow is a brown glazed earthen jar. Height, 20 inches; length, 24 inches. 32—RECEPTION DAY Four spotted kittens, two near the door of their basket home and two on the top of it, are evidently on show. In the background is a blue Chinese vase in front of a brocade curtain. Height, 24 inches; width, 20 inches. 383—THE FISH COMMISSIONERS A globe with goldfish is the cause of great ex- | citement among three small kittens, who eagerly watch the fish. Height, 14 inches; length, 18 inches. 34—THE MORNING PAPER A daily paper has been left on a table, together with a lighted cigar, a cup and saucer and a copper tea-kettle, and three kittens have found the crisp paper a novelty to play with. Height, 13 inches; length, 19 inches. | 35—THE BLACKSMITH’S SHOP A bay horse is being shod in front of a country I | blacksmith’s shop while the owner sits near, pa- tiently holding the halter rope. | | Height, 20 inches; length, 24 inches. 386—A PLAYFUL LOT Three kittens, who have been let out of their basket home, are playing with a curtain cord which has in some way fallen across the basket.