An Artistic Legacy

THE GERALDINE ROCKEFELLER DODGE COLLECTION
 

February 11, 2012  -  March 24, 2012
 

The William Secord Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition and sale of 150 dog and animal related works of art from the collection of the late Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, collector, philanthropist, dog show judge and breeder and exhibitor of champion dogs. Sold to benefit the Capital Campaign of Saint Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey, the collection includes nineteenth century paintings, animalier bronzes, important sterling silver dog show trophies and over forty watercolor portraits of dogs by the British artist, R. Ward Binks (1880-1950).

Mrs. Dodge is a legend in the purebred dog world, having founded the Morris and Essex Kennel Club in 1927, and bred and/or imported some of America’s most important English Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, pointers, setters and Schipperkes, among others. Her book, The English Cocker Spaniel in America, which she co-authored with Josephine R. Zine, was instrumental in the American Kennel Club recognizing the breed as distinct from the American Cocker Spaniel. Her book on the German Shepherd was equally important in establishing the breed in the United States.

Upon Mrs. Dodge’s death, she left a collection of thousands of works of art, including those left to Saint Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center which she founded in 1939. These art works are now being sold to further the mission of this important organization: to alleviate the suffering and neglect of companion animals and to provide services that support the human/animal bond.

Included for sale are paintings by Rosa Bonheur (French, 1822-1899), the British artist George Earl (1856-1883) and the American artists Gustav Muss-Arnolt (1858-1927) and Percival Rosseau (1859-1937.) There are 45 nineteenth century bronzes by French animalier artists, including a life size casting of a pointer and a pheasant by Jules Moigniez (1835-1894) which bronze expert Joseph Reinis considers the artist’s masterpiece. Also included are 40 Ward Binks portraits of prominent dogs, including the Doberman Ch. Ferry von Rauhfelsen of Giralda, who won Best in Show at Madison Square Garden in 1939, the English Cocker Spaniel, Ch. Blackmoor Beacon of Giralda and the famous German Shepherd, Ch. Dewet von der Starrenberg. Also included are 30 sterling silver trophies from as early as 1928, won by Mrs. Dodge’s dogs, including, a large double handled copper and silver trophy from the first American Kennel Club Dog Show.

This exhibition represents the last opportunity to view a significant part of Mrs. Dodge’s legacy, being sold to benefit the animal shelter which she created.

Consulting pure-bred dog historian: Amy Fernandez
Sculpture consultant to the exhibition: Joseph Reinis