Among dogs, Edwin Douglas's favourites I believe were setters.  These he painted often, the best example perhaps, it is said, being a pair of white ones, waiting, apparently with some patience, while their master finished his sherry and sandwiches.  This painting has, so far, eluded me.

I have come across the two following pictures of setters —

  In 1872 I understand that Edwin and Christiana Douglas went to stay with a Mr. Handyside of Milanthort. It was not just a social visit but to paint his handsome mastiff dog named "Mars".

One evening after they had wined and dined, a really handsome Gordon setter appeared round the door. Waving his tail in real pleasure he walked straight up to Edwin as if he was an old acquaintance although they had not met before.  The dog was named "Grousie" and Edwin immediately fell in love with him. He announced to his host that he wished he had a dog of the same breed. Mr. Handyside, warmed by the meal followed by the compliment, promptly offered to hand the dog over to the artist in exchange for a sketch of the Grousie for him to keep.

That is how "Grousie" returned to Lawbrook House to join the Douglas household and reigned supreme.

Edwin was heartbroken when his favourite Gordon setter, "Grousie", died of old age. However, the artist in Edwin turned this event into an opportunity to paint another canvas entitled "Shuffled off this mortal coil", which eventually hung at Fox Down in Findon.

The old dog was laid on its side in an attitude that could have meant either death or sleep. The black and tan, with spots of white on the breast and the forepaws afforded a rare chance for quality in colour of which Edwin fully availed himself. I often wonder how he could have concentrated on painting such a sorrowful picture of his faithful friend without the tears welling in his eyes.

In February 2002, Mark Moore from the U.S.A. sent me this print of "Setters" as being painted by Edwin Douglas.   I have not come across this one before and was a little concerned and still had be be convinced that it is the work of the Findon artist.

Continue if you would like to read about Edwin Douglas' Surrey Union Hunt Days.

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This is Findon — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.