Manor House Galgo
By Grenville Moore
Acrylic on linen
Original artwork
Framed
Image size: H: 76cm x W: 60cm
This handsome 'greyhound' is actually a galgo, a Spanish greyhound (with an exceptionally long nose) named Villa , living in Denmark.
We see the curve of his neck and the ripple of his spine as he looks round to pick up a scent or a glimpse. As ever, the portayal is sensitive and endearing - a charming form of visual worship to commemorate the creature.
The fabulous background is taken from a 16th Century medieval manor house, a Hall House near Hay-on-Wye, and is based on painted boards with a frieze of what look like pomegranates but are, in fact, strawberries!
Grenville delights in adding detail to the portrait - and texture to the hairy coat - which he regards as honouring and individualising the animal he paints.
The piece has a floating frame in black, to match the era of the painting background, and its leading edges are tan/gold, distressed, to echo the coat of the dog.
ABOUT GRENVILLE MOORE
Grenville is an accomplished and distinctive painter working from his idyllic garden studio in a small village on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border.
After many years when illustration, design and cartoon strips were his hobby, he became a specialist decorator and muralist and completed assignments and commissions in homes throughout the Cotswolds and London. He also wrote and illustrated articles for two national publications. Among his projects were a large painted vase for the Ralph Lauren store in Barcelona and various items of painted furniture.
These decorative and interior design skills remain with him - and very much on show - in his paintings of wild animals, many of which are enhanced and embellished with backgrounds of rich tapestry motifs, Arcadian glades and medieval-style foliage. His love of heraldry also shines through in clever motifs and touches of symbolism.
A trip to Kenya first sparked his enchantment with wild animals and birds and inspired his current, very popular work which specialises in dramatic animals portraits, often large scale and close-up. Detail and accuracy are key. He is passionate about telling the story of each creature, accentuating the unusual and celebrating the wildness, dignity and soul of each animal. The rich narrative of the painting is often further enhanced by its elaborate or traditional framing, matching perfectly with the inventive, decorative backdrops.
Grenville's work is in private collections in America, Russia and throughout the UK.