AKE 20.3
1889-1908
1.75 linear ft (in 2 flat boxes.)
Processed by Brynn White, 2016
Click here for a printable PDF of the collection finding aid
The collection includes clippings of the 204 pen drawings by promiment dog painter and show judge Gustav Muss-Arnolt published between 1889 and 1908 in the American Kennel Club Gazette. The breeds most prominently depicted are the Beagle, Bulldog, Collie, English Setter, Fox Terrier, Irish Terrier, Pointer, Spaniel, and Saint Bernard. Muss-Arnolt’s faithful renderings of expression, anatomy, and coat texture makes his work useful for the study of breed development.
Biographical Information
Artist Gustav Muss-Arnolt (1858-1927) was known for his depictions of gun dogs which achieved great popularity amongst American sportsmen. He was early associated with the Bronxville art colony before moving to New York City from Tuckahoe around 1894. In the early 1890s he wrote and illustrated several articles about American dogs, bench shows, and important kennels for Harper’s Weekly, including a page of champion dog sketches for the February 1891 issue. His paintings regularly appeared in annual exhibitions at the National Academy of Design [“Hard Pressed; Beagles Chasing a Rabbit” (1887); “Steady Boys! (Quail Shooting in North Carolina)” (1894)] and he was commissioned as a pet portraitist by many prominent families. Between 1895 and 1909 Muss-Arnolt did over 200 illustrations for the American Kennel Club Gazette which were produced on the covers of its “Event Calendar” supplements. His most respected paintings were those depicting dogs in field action and performance, deploying a rich, somber, and autumnal palette. His faithful renderings of expression, anatomy, and coat texture makes his work useful for the study of breed development.
Nineteen of Muss-Arnolt’s canvases are on display in the offices of the American Kennel Club, where he was on the board of directors from 1906 to 1909. “Mussy” was also a well-known and respected field trial and bench show judge in the United States, England, and his native Germany. His particular expertise was in Pointers, Great Danes, and Dachshunds.
Source: David Savage, “Muss-Arnolt: Master of Sporting Art,” AKZ Gazette, November 1933.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes clippings of the 204 pen drawings by Gustav Muss-Arnolt published between 1889 and 1908 in the American Kennel Club Gazette. In select cases, a photo copy is present rather than an original clipping from the magazine.
The breeds most prominently depicted are the Beagle, Bulldog, Collie, English Setter, Fox Terrier, Irish Terrier, Pointer, Spaniel, and Saint Bernard. Other breeds include the Airedale Terrier, American Foxhound, Black and Tan Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bloodhound, Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Dog, Chihuahua, Chow Chow, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Dandie Dinmont, Deerhound, French Bulldog, Gordon Setter, Great Dane, Greyhound, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Greyhound, Japanese Spaniel, Mastiff, Old English Sheepdog, Pomeranian, Poodle, Pug, Russian Wolfhound, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier, Pekinese, Toy Spaniel, Yorkshire Terrier, Welsh Terrier, and Whippet. An inventory by breed, additionally listing the name of each canine subject paired with its date and print number, is present in the first box.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by plate number, which corresponds with the date in which they were published. They are foldered chronologically by year.
Provenance
Clippings were made from original American Kennel Club Gazette issues and acquired by the Library & Archives through a series of transfers of AKC departments.
Related Materials
The AKC Library & Archives holds a subject file on Gustave Muss-Arnolt, as well as copies of the original AKC Gazettes featuring his work.
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
| Indexes 1889-1908 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Pen Drawings 1898-1899 | 1 | 2-12 | ||
| Pen Drawings 1900-1909 | 2 | 1-10 | ||