The pheasants depicted on the subject gun are textbook Runge, especially the position of the wings of the uppermost pheasant in flight. Compare that wing position against any other of his birds in flight, quail, pheasants, ducks... they all have that same wing position.
I just took Kathy's Repro 28 gauge, 28-03961 and examined the pheasants on hers and they are far more artistically represented. Furthermore, I have always held the opinion that Robert Runge was a fine engraving artist but not so much of an anatomist. Wings set in awkward positions, dogs' legs protruding from the body at anatomically impossible angles are a couple of examples. These anatomic characteristics are evident in the subject gun but not on later Repros.
.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
|