Museum of Hounds & Hunting


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New Posters Available - order today! Order Form, downloadable PDF

Sporting Art Show and Sale at Morven Park

Leesburg, Va. The Museum of Hounds & Hunting NA is pleased to announce the Beresford Gallery of Unionville, Pa., will present the 2008 Sporting Art Show and Sale in the historic Coach House at Morven Park over Memorial Day weekend. Having been on hiatus for several years, the return of the MHHNA show has been eagerly anticipated. The event is widely regarded for presenting a premier collection of work from highly acclaimed contemporary sporting artists.

This year’s roster includes Beverly Wende, Juli Kirk, Nancy Pellatt, Larry Wheeler, Richard Hubbard, Peggy Kauffman, Linda Luster, Beth Carlson, sculptor J. Clayton Bright, wrought iron artist Eric Zanotti, and others – all with exciting new works shown for the first time.

The 2008 exhibition poster features American Hounds by Julie Kirk (see below and attached). It is available for $20.00 and can be purchased at the event or through www.mhhna.org or by calling 703-777-2414. Proceeds from the posters, and a portion of the art sale proceeds, go to benefit the Museum’s efforts to preserve the art and artifacts of mounted hunting in North America.

“We are thrilled to be back at beautiful, historic Morven Park,” says Elizabeth Beer of the Beresford Gallery. “It’s the perfect setting to showcase our legacy of fine sporting art to the public. We have several outstanding pieces to present and we’re proud to support the Museum of Hounds and Hunting through our success.”

Marion Maggiolo, chairman of the MHHNA, echoes Ms. Beer’s sentiments: “The Museum’s collection includes pieces from the early 18th century, as well as works by some of the most notable sporting artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. To see this rich tradition continued by the talented contributors to this display of contemporary art is truly inspiring.”

Morven Park hosts the Virginia Fox Hound Show on Sunday, May 25, near the Boxwood Garden. This annual event attracts enthusiasts from across North America and provides an excellent opportunity for a day of family fun in an elegant country setting. Visitors can watch North America’s finest fox hounds exhibit, tour the Gardens, visit the Winmill Carriage Collection, and attend the Sporting Art Exhibit and Sale.

The Sporting Art Exhibit will be open to the public Friday, May 23, from noon until 6 PM; Saturday, May 24, from 11 to 4; and Sunday, May 25, from 11 to 5.

For information about the show, contact the Beresford Gallery, 610-347-1247, Beresfordgallery.com, or the office at Morven Park, 703-777-2414. Admission is free.

Tasteful Additions to Home, Office, Tack Room…Anywhere
We’re proud of the posters created for the Museum, each an artful piece unto itself. Museum posters hang in the homes, offices, tack rooms, and stables of members and friends. They make impressive gifts and remembrances. This year sees the addition of two new designs. One, entitled The Chase Begins, features the John Ward Dunsmore painting of George Washington following his huntsman and hounds. The other honors the Masters of Foxhounds Association on its 100th anniversary. By request we have created just a few of these new posters, as well as those from years past in the larger size. For those who value the beauty and distinction of these displays, here’s a rare chance to own one in a special size from a very limited run. Museum posters make an attractive embellishment to any space. Support your Museum and decorate your life with one…or several. Visit the Museum Store for ordering details or call the MHHNA office at Morven Park at 703.777.2414.

ITEMS ON LOAN TO THE NATIONAL SPORTING LIBRARY

Three important items from the Museum’s collection are currently on loan for public display at the National Sporting Library.


"The Scurry"	Weathervane	Untitled, Gentleman on Grey Horse

“The Scurry,” Jean Bowman
A gift of the Honorable Bruce Sundlun and Mrs. Sundlun.

A “scurry” was a common artistic conceit popular in England during the 17th and 18th centuries, before the advent of photography. The art form was a composite portrait of the riders, horses, and hounds—all identifiable and named—in a particular hunting field or club. The Orange County “Scurry” is notable for several of the personages represented: Legendary Huntsman Melvin Poe; Bruce Sundlun, former governor of Rhode Island and, at the time of the painting, owner of Salamander Farm; Ambassador Charles Whitehouse; Senator John Warner; and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (to name just a few).
Virginia Folk Art Weathervane (Lady sidesaddle, jumping a rail fence)
Cut metal, early 20th century
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Huberth.
Untitled oil on Canvas, Gentleman on Grey Horse Jumping a Fence and Water.
John Frederick Herring, Senior (English, 1795-1865)
Donated by Mrs. Grace Ritzenberg

Herring was a prolific painter of English hunting action, famous racehorses, and bucolic farm and barnyard scenes during the early to middle part of the 1800s. Taught by Abraham Cooper, he progressed from life as a stable boy and coachman to the patriarch of an artistic family that included his brother and three sons. Under the patronage of Queen Victoria, engravings from his work appeared in illustrated magazines and today forms an essential part of English sporting artistry.

We appreciate the opportunity provided by the National Sporting Library to present these valuable items for public viewing.

WANTED- Volunteers to inventory, identify, create files and indexes and re-house portions of the Marshall Hawkins Collection of photographs.

AUTHORS NEEDED: Museum News welcomes manuscripts and illustrations for publication. Historical material should pertain to hunting with hounds in North America. Guest curators and concepts for annual displays are also needed. Here’s your chance to share your material with an enthusiastic audience. Please remember that your donations to the Collection, membership fees and financial gifts are fully deductible from taxable income in accordance with the provisions of the Federal income tax law. The Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation is a private operating foundation as defined in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as amended, and to which donations are tax deductible under section 170 of the code.

FOR ESTATE PLANNING, the Museum’s tax-exempt status should be brought to the attention of your attorney. With your help, the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America will continue to preserve the rich heritage of hunting with hounds for future generations.

HISTORIC HUNT BUTTON SEARCH: Do you have old hunt buttons tucked away at home? The Museum is searching for historic brass and black buttons from North American hunt clubs that are no longer in existence. Please contact the office if you have contributions. 703-777-2414 or info@mhhna.org

“The Scurry”: Limited Edition Jean Bowman Print Available

The Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America, Morven Park, Leesburg, Va., is pleased to announce the availability of a limited edition print by the late Jean Bowman (1918-1994). Signed and numbered by the artist, the print is entitled “The Scurry” and is taken from Mrs. Bowman’s 1988 oil on canvas of the Orange County Hunt.

Across the Scurry “The Scurry”: Limited Edition Jean Bowman Print Available

According to James L. Young, MFH of the Orange County, a “scurry” was a common artistic conceit popular in England during the 17th and 18th centuries, before the advent of photography. The art form was a composite portrait of the riders, horses, and hounds—all identifiable and named—in a particular hunting field or club.

The Orange County “Scurry” is notable for several of the personage represented. Legendary Huntsman Melvin Poe is seen with hounds in the middle distance. In the foreground, sporting top hat and shadbelly tails, is Bruce Sundlun, former governor of Rhode Island and, at the time of the painting, owner of Salamander Farm in Virginia. Also represented (to name but a few) are Ambassador Charles Whitehouse, Senator John Warner, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

“The Scurry” truly represents a singular moment in the long and illustrious history of foxhunting in North America and the Museum is honored to offer these limited edition signed prints for $385. The overall size is 35” x 20.” The proceeds will go to further the work of the Museum of Hounds and Hunting in its efforts to preserve the art, artifacts, and literature of this sport. “The Scurry” certainly deserves to be included in that effort. The family of Mr. Russell Jantzen has given these prints to the Museum in recognition of the relationship between Jean Bowman and the Museum.

For more information and to order “The Scurry” and its separate key which identifies all the riders, go to Museum Store or phone 703-777-2414

MHHNA, The Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Inc., Morven Park, PO Box 6228, Leesburg, VA 20178.
Photos, images, text and any other web content is Copyright Protected © 2008 MHHNA. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without the written consent of the Museum of Hounds and Hunting NA.