Title
Hippodale
Creator
Date
c. 1910
Description
PORTRAIT OF "HIPPODALE" (American. c. 1910) by Mariette Leslie Cotton (American, 1866-1947). Hippodale, depicted here at age 6, was the prized pet Papillion breed dog of Harry Symes Lehr (American, 1869-1929) and his wife Elizabeth Drexel Dahlgren Lehr (American, 1868-1944). This oil on canvas portrait was painted in Paris by Cotton, a friend of the family, as a Christmas present. Mariette (Benedict) Cotton (Mrs. Joseph Leslie Cotton) was celebrated in her day as a portraitist of the international elite. A student of William Merritt Chase, Carolus Duran, and Jean-Jacques Henner, she worked mainly in Paris but also maintained studios in London and New York.
Hippodale is viewed seated against a red patterned fabric backdrop, his head cocked, slightly left of center, a silver medal dangling from a black and gray knotted blow collar and a gemstone lead trails from his black fur to the left foreground. He is depicted with graying fur above the eyes and around his muzzle. The lower left corner of the canvas bears a script inscription by the artist: "Hippodale a l'age de 6 ans/a ses parents adores/Merry Xmas from MC." The canvas is housed in the original Louis XVI style gilt-wood frame.
Hippodale was also depicted by Giovanni Boldini in his 1905 full-length portrait of Mrs. Lehr, in the collection of the Preservation Society (PSNC.2500), and again by Cotton in a recumbent pose around the same times as the present work. Hippodale died during the winter of 1916 following injuries suffered while being walked by Mr. Lehr at the Longchamp race track in Paris when hit by a taxicab January 9, 1916.
Hippodale is viewed seated against a red patterned fabric backdrop, his head cocked, slightly left of center, a silver medal dangling from a black and gray knotted blow collar and a gemstone lead trails from his black fur to the left foreground. He is depicted with graying fur above the eyes and around his muzzle. The lower left corner of the canvas bears a script inscription by the artist: "Hippodale a l'age de 6 ans/a ses parents adores/Merry Xmas from MC." The canvas is housed in the original Louis XVI style gilt-wood frame.
Hippodale was also depicted by Giovanni Boldini in his 1905 full-length portrait of Mrs. Lehr, in the collection of the Preservation Society (PSNC.2500), and again by Cotton in a recumbent pose around the same times as the present work. Hippodale died during the winter of 1916 following injuries suffered while being walked by Mr. Lehr at the Longchamp race track in Paris when hit by a taxicab January 9, 1916.
Cultural Origin
American
Medium
oil on canvas
Extent
24" x 19 1/2"
Collection
Source
Gift of Miss. Christina C. Anderson, 2017.
Identifier
PSNC.14388
Related Materials
related to PSNC.2500 and PSNC.14389
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.