Arthur Wardle

Arthur Wardle (1864-1949) was an English painter. He was one of the most widely known dog painters of the 19th and 20th centuries. Wardle was prolific; he painted a variety of animal subjects with equal skill but his work is generally divided into two categories: wild animals and dogs, and he is particularly known for his paintings of terriers, although he probably painted every breed of purebred dog that existed during his day.

Wardle evidently had little formal training but consummate natural talent. He is considered equally proficient in oils, watercolours and pastels.

Wardle painted what is probably the best known painting of the fox terrier in its modern form, The Totteridge XI. The painting was commissioned by famed smooth fox terrier breeder Francis Redmond; Wardle painted a number of Redmond’s dogs. The original is in the gallery of the Kennel Club in London.

Wardle’s work has been widely reproduced.