'After Chevy Chase' (Battle of Otterburn 1388)
Herbert Dicksee (London 1862 - London 1942)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1894 (signed and dated, exhibited at RA)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1710 x 2410 mm
Place of origin
Great Britain
Order this imageCollection
Cragside, Northumberland
NT 1230415
Caption
'After Chevy Chase' is based on a folk ballad about a battle between the Earl of Northumberland and the Scottish Earl of Douglas over an area of hunting land (or chase) in the Cheviot Hills. In Dicksee's painting, the battle has been fought and a dead knight lies face-down, guarded by his faithful hounds. It is perhaps no coincidence that the dogs occupy a position of prominence, as the artist specialised in painting dogs, especially deerhounds like the one at the left of the painting.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, 'After Chevy Chase' (Battle of Otterburn 1388) by Herbert Thomas Dicksee (London 1862 – London 1942), signed and dated, bottom left: Herbert Dicksee 1894 [almost effaced]. A moorland landscape, with a fallen warrior, possibly Earl Douglas, dead on the field of battle and his sorrowing dogs howling at his side. The title refers to a ballad relating an episode from the border wars between the Percys of Northumberland and the Douglas clan. At the Battle of Otterburn James Douglas is killed although the Scottish win and take Sir Henry Percy (Hotspur) hostage and were intially unaware of their leader's death. 'A more redoubted knight never perished by such a chance.' (quote from English ballad)/ "O bury me by the braken-bush, Beneath the blooming brier; Let never living mortal ken That ere a kindly Scot lies here." (quote from Scottish ballad) It was exhbited at the Royal Academy in 1894 (no. 276).
Provenance
Presented to the National Trust in 1977 by Colonel L. Gray-Cheape.
Credit line
Cragside (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Bottom left: HERBERT DICKSEE 1894
Makers and roles
Herbert Dicksee (London 1862 - London 1942), artist