Percival Leonard Rosseau stands as a significant figure in American art, particularly renowned for his exceptional ability to capture the spirit and movement of sporting dogs. Born in 1859 and passing away in 1937, Rosseau carved a unique niche for himself, transitioning from the world of business to become one of the preeminent painters of canine subjects in the early 20th century. His works, celebrated for their vitality and anatomical accuracy, continue to command respect and high prices in the art market today.
From Commerce to Canvas: An Artistic Awakening
Percival Leonard Rosseau's journey into the art world was not a conventional one. Born near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1859, his initial career path led him into the realm of business. For years, he pursued commercial interests, a life far removed from the studios and salons of the art world. However, a latent passion for art eventually surfaced, prompting a significant life change.
Driven by this newfound artistic calling, Rosseau made the pivotal decision to travel to Paris, the undisputed center of the art world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There, he enrolled in the prestigious Académie Julian, a private art school famous for attracting international students and offering a curriculum grounded in traditional techniques but open to contemporary trends. This move marked the definitive end of his business career and the beginning of his dedication to painting.
Parisian Training and the Barbizon Influence
At the Académie Julian, Rosseau immersed himself in his studies. Crucially, his time in France exposed him to the lingering influence of the Barbizon School. This mid-19th-century movement, centered around the village of Barbizon near the Forest of Fontainebleau, emphasized realism and a deep appreciation for nature. Artists like Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Jean-François Millet, and Théodore Rousseau (no relation to Percival) championed painting en plein air (outdoors) and depicted rural life and landscapes with honesty and sensitivity.
The Barbizon ethos, with its focus on natural light, atmosphere, and truthful representation of the natural world, resonated deeply with Rosseau. It provided a foundation for his developing style, particularly influencing his approach to landscape settings and his desire to capture animals within their natural environments. This training and influence would prove formative as he began to exhibit his work.
Salon Success and a Defining Moment
Rosseau began to test his skills on the competitive stage of the Paris Salons, the official, highly influential art exhibitions. He first exhibited in the Salon of 1904, presenting a work featuring setters, indicating his early interest in the subject matter that would come to define his career. This initial foray was followed by another exhibition in the Salon of 1906.
The 1906 Salon proved to be a turning point. Rosseau submitted a dramatic painting depicting cheetahs hunting, a subject showcasing his ability to render animal anatomy and dynamic action. This work was awarded a Gold Medal, a significant honor that brought him considerable recognition. Interestingly, this success with a subject other than dogs solidified his resolve to focus almost exclusively on painting sporting dogs, particularly setters and pointers, for the remainder of his career.
The Specialist: Master of the Sporting Dog
Following his Salon success, Percival Leonard Rosseau dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the depiction of sporting dogs. He developed an extraordinary affinity for English Setters and Pointers, breeds renowned for their elegance, athleticism, and crucial role in upland game hunting. His paintings moved beyond mere portraiture; they captured the essence of these animals in action – pointing, retrieving, or simply moving through the landscape with characteristic grace and intensity.
Rosseau's deep understanding of canine anatomy, posture, and movement was evident. He didn't just paint dogs; he painted specific breeds performing the tasks they were bred for, conveying their focus, energy, and connection to the outdoor environment. This specialization set him apart and earned him acclaim among art critics, collectors, and sporting enthusiasts alike. His intimate knowledge likely stemmed from personal experience with hunting and dogs, lending authenticity to his canvases.
Artistic Style: Naturalism, Movement, and Light
Rosseau's style remained rooted in the naturalism he absorbed from his Barbizon influences, but he adapted it to his specific subject matter. He excelled at depicting the interplay of light and shadow across the dogs' coats and the surrounding fields and woodlands. His compositions often emphasized the diagonal lines and dynamic poses of dogs caught mid-stride or locked in a point, creating a sense of immediacy and arrested motion.
Unlike some animal painters who might overly sentimentalize their subjects, Rosseau maintained a degree of objective realism. His dogs are portrayed as working animals, their musculature, coat textures, and intense gazes rendered with careful observation. He managed to convey both the physical prowess and the inherent beauty of the breeds he favored. His brushwork, while detailed, often retained a certain painterly quality, avoiding photographic rigidity and preserving a sense of life.
Representative Works and Notable Canvases
Throughout his career, Rosseau produced numerous paintings that are now considered classics of the sporting art genre. His Setters series, in general, is highly regarded. Specific documented works highlight his skill and thematic consistency.
_Two Gordon Setters in a Field_ (1904): An early example, likely exhibited around the time of his first Salon appearance, showcasing his developing style and focus on setters within a natural landscape. The handling of light and the dogs' attentive poses are characteristic.
_Perfection_ (1922): Considered one of his masterpieces, this painting reportedly depicts two specific dogs, Ned and Bob. It exemplifies his ability to capture the ideal form and pointing stance of setters. Its high sale price at auction ($54,000, exceeding estimates) attests to its desirability among collectors.
_A Moment's Rest - Foxhounds at a Ford_ (1926): While best known for setters and pointers, this work shows his versatility in depicting other breeds. It captures a pack of foxhounds pausing at a stream, demonstrating his skill in handling group compositions and varied canine forms. This piece also achieved a strong auction result ($48,000).
_Two Setters_ (1931): This later work fetched a remarkable $210,000 at auction in 2007, significantly surpassing its estimate. Such prices underscore the enduring market appeal and perceived quality of Rosseau's prime works.
_In the Woods_ (date unknown): Housed in the George Eastman Museum, this title suggests a typical setting for his subjects, emphasizing the integration of the dogs within their sylvan environment.
_Autumn Pointers in the Woods_ (c. 1905): Held by the Frye Art Museum, this painting again highlights his preferred subject and setting, likely capturing the distinct atmosphere of the fall hunting season.
An American Career: New York and the Lyme Art Colony
While his formative training occurred in Paris, Rosseau was fundamentally an American artist. He was active in the New York art scene, exhibiting his work and gaining recognition. His specialization in sporting dogs found a receptive audience in the United States, where hunting traditions and appreciation for fine animal painting were strong.
Rosseau also became associated with the Lyme Art Colony in Connecticut. Located in Old Lyme, this was one of America's most famous Impressionist art colonies. While Rosseau's style wasn't strictly Impressionist, the colony attracted artists interested in landscape and outdoor scenes. He lived on Grassy Hill in Lyme and was a member of the Lyme Art Association, participating in their annual exhibitions. His presence there connected him with other prominent American artists associated with the colony, such as Childe Hassam and Willard Metcalf, though his subject matter remained distinct.
Context and Contemporaries: An Artist of His Time
Percival Leonard Rosseau worked during a vibrant period in American art. While the provided information doesn't detail specific collaborations or direct rivalries, it's essential to place him within the context of his contemporaries. His Barbizon influence connects him to figures like Corot, Millet, and Théodore Rousseau. In America, the landscape tradition was strong, carried forward by artists influenced by the Hudson River School and later by Impressionism.
Artists like Winslow Homer captured the ruggedness of the American outdoors, while figures associated with Lyme, such as the aforementioned Childe Hassam and Willard Metcalf, brought American Impressionism to the fore. In the specific field of animal and sporting art, Rosseau's contemporaries included painters like Frank Weston Benson, known for his waterfowl and sporting scenes, often with an Impressionist touch. Frederic Remington depicted the animals and figures of the American West, while Alexander Pope and Edmund Osthaus were also notable painters specializing in dogs and wildlife. Philip R. Goodwin was another prominent illustrator and painter of wildlife and hunting scenes. Rosseau carved his niche alongside these figures, distinguishing himself through his intense focus on setters and pointers and his particular blend of realism and vitality, perhaps less stylized than someone like John Singer Sargent but equally dedicated to his craft.
Market Recognition and Auction Success
The enduring appeal of Percival Leonard Rosseau's work is clearly reflected in the art market. Decades after his death, his paintings continue to be sought after by collectors, particularly those interested in sporting art and American painting. Auction results consistently demonstrate the value placed on his work.
The sale of Two Setters (1931) for $210,000 in 2007, far exceeding its $40,000-$60,000 estimate, is a testament to his high standing. Similarly, the $54,000 achieved for Perfection against a $30,000-$50,000 estimate, and the $48,000 sale of A Moment's Rest - Foxhounds at a Ford, confirm a robust market. His works have appeared at specialized auctions like the Copley Fine Art Auctions (often associated with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition) and the Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, known for high-quality Western and sporting art, where another piece sold for $50,850. Galleries like the Secord Gallery, specializing in dog painting, have also handled his work, indicating his importance within that specific collecting field.
Museum Collections and Lasting Legacy
Beyond the private market, Rosseau's work is represented in public collections, ensuring its accessibility for study and appreciation. The George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, holds his painting In the Woods. The Frye Art Museum in Seattle includes Autumn Pointers in the Woods (c. 1905) in its collection. While perhaps not as widely represented in major encyclopedic museums as some contemporaries, his presence in these institutions affirms his art historical significance.
Percival Leonard Rosseau's legacy rests on his mastery in depicting sporting dogs. He brought a painter's eye, honed by academic training and Barbizon sensibilities, to a subject he clearly knew and loved intimately. He captured not just the likeness of setters and pointers, but their energy, focus, and integration within the landscapes they inhabited. For collectors of sporting art and admirers of skilled animal painting, Rosseau remains a benchmark figure, an American artist who excelled in his chosen specialty.
Conclusion: A Singular Vision
Percival Leonard Rosseau's career demonstrates a successful transition from commerce to art, guided by European training but ultimately focused on a subject deeply rooted in American and British sporting traditions. His dedication to portraying English Setters and Pointers with anatomical accuracy, vitality, and sensitivity to their natural environment established him as a leader in the field of canine art. Influenced by the naturalism of the Barbizon school yet developing his own distinct approach, Rosseau created a body of work that continues to resonate with art lovers and sporting enthusiasts alike. His paintings stand as enduring tributes to the beauty and spirit of the sporting dog, securing his place in the annals of American art history.
