A very charming, humorous Regency drawing by famed animal artist James Howe (178

James Howe of Skirling (1780 - 1836)

“A lady riding a donkey with a squire and a whippet”

Pen on paper: 9 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (24.5 x 39.3 cm.)
Framed dimensions: 17 1/4 x 22 in. (44 x 57.5 cm.)

Signed lower right: ‘I How’
Drawn circa 1820

This fine and very charming drawing, by the famed Scottish animal artist James Howe, shows a young, well-dressed lady - rather unusually - riding a donkey. She is being led by a rather bored looking squire, who in turn rides a stocky horse. She gazes down toward a well-defined whippet, who loyally follows her. The exact meaning behind her riding an ass has been lost, but the curious subject remains humorous!

James Howe was born on 30 August 1780 in the Peeblesshire village of Skirling - the son of the minister, the Rev. William Howe.

After training with the Edinburgh-based Norie family of artist-decorators, he established himself in the capital. He would go on to exhibit 37 paintings between 1808 and 1821 at the Society of Scottish Artists and a further 19 at the Institution of Fine Arts in Edinburgh.

He became a firm friend of Sir Walter Scott, not only painting a portrait of the great writer but also a farm yard scene of Scott's legendary dog, Camp, at Ashestiel. The friends travelled together to the battlegrounds of Waterloo in 1815, possibly accompanied by Howe’s pupil William Kidd. Howe later produced a magnificent 21 square-metre panoramic of the battle.

Howe is best known, however, for drawing and painting carefully detailed studies of animals, alongside more lively and comical paintings of rural scenes and character portraits. He carried out commissions for King George III and the eleventh earl of Buchan. His characterful drawings and paintings of livestock and horses made Howe a household name in Georgian Britain.

Price includes UK P&P

James Howe died at his cousins farm, Galalaw, near Skirling on July 11, 1836 and is buried in Skirling churchyard.

This drawing was formerly owned by the art dealer John Abbott (1937 - 2011) of the renowned works on paper dealers, Abbott & Holder.

It survives in good condition and ready to hang in a simple gilt frame. There is minor discolouration around the edges due to the mount and a diagonal crease to the top right. There are also minor white spots dotted around the paper, which I believe could be treated. Please see images for details.