(London 1840–1920)
Strayed from the Flock, monogrammed, dated B. R. 1867, oil on canvas, 71 x 92 cm, framed, (GG)

Provenance:
Private Collection Italy.

Exhibited:
London, Royal Academy, 1867.

In 1867, when the present lot was painted, Briton Rivière appeared to have fallen into a melancholy artistic mood with the representation of a dead lamb lying in the snow. The robin next to him, which is singing, stands in stark contrast to the dead lamb. The artist often painted overly-sentimental subject matter, which was popular during the Victorian period.
The present work was chosen by Rivière to be exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Born in London in 1840, he studied under his father during the nine years he was at Cheltenham College and subsequently at Oxford.
He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy from 1858, producing a mix of classical and animal subjects.

He was considered to be the only painter of animals in England who was able to succeed to Sir Edwin Landseer, who had a considerable influence on him.

The sentimental subject of the present painting proved to be popular with the public, as it was engraved by Frederick Stackpoole.

His knowledge of animals was based on frequent visits to the London Zoo and on a close study of animals.