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John Emms

1843 - 1912
John Emms was a British artist celebrated for his dynamic and expressive paintings of animals-particularly horses, foxhounds, terriers, and deer-hounds, as well as scenes of sporting and rural life. Born on 21 April 1843 in Blofield, Norfolk, he was the son of the artist Henry William Emms. Emms specialised in animal and sporting subjects, capturing his models with remarkable vitality and anatomical accuracy. Working primarily in oils, his paintings portray a deep understanding of the physical and emotional character of his subjects, the individuality and spirit of animals, especially dogs and horses, earned him wide acclaim.
He exhibited regularly in London from 1866 to 1903, particularly at the Royal Academy and the Suffolk Street Gallery, establishing a solid reputation among the British gentry. Among his notable commissions was a celebrated series of paintings of Clumber Spaniels created for the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle.
Today, Emms' works can be found in several major public collections, including the National Trust at Tatton Park (Knutsford), the National Gallery of Scotland (Edinburgh), the New Forest Heritage Centre (Lyndhurst), the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery (Bournemouth), Sheffield Museums, Southampton City Art Gallery, and Torre Abbey Museum (Torquay).
John Emms passed away on 1 November 1912 at his family home in Lyndhurst, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's most accomplished animal painters of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
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