About this lot

Description

Nick McCann (British, b. 1957) 'Autumn Dawn, 1808' - Boatswain, Lord Byron's favourite hound, with Newstead Abbey behind signed "McCann" lower left; titled and signed on the canvas verso oil on linen in a hand-made 'Hogarth'-style frame designed by the artist 111 x 152cm (43 x 59in)
Other Notes: According to Byron, his beloved dog, Boatswain (pronounced 'Bo'sun'), was born in Newfoundland in 1803. In fact, there is no evidence to support this claim. Boatswain was by all accounts Byron's favourite dog, probably due to the animal's large size, flamboyant and striking appearance, thick piebald coat and muscular physique. In 1808, Byron came down from Trinity College, Cambridge, and returned to his ancestral home in Newstead with Boatswain and his equally famous bear, Bruin. Tragically, Boatswain died from rabies in November 1808. Byron had an elaborate tomb created and the dog was entombed in the grounds of Newstead Abbey. A possibly posthumous painting of the dog was executed by the Nottingham sporting artist, Clifton Tomson, in 1808 and is now at Newstead Abbey. The artist has shown the iconic dog, as an autumn dawn breaks, on Castle Hill overlooking the lake at Newstead, the site of the 17th century Folly Castle built by Byron's uncle. Boatswain wears his brass collar engraved with the inscription "The Hon'ble Lord Byron, C.W. ELLIS MANSFIELD".

Back to lot listings