John Bucknell Russell 1819-1893 19th Century Oil Painting 'Present of Game'

19th century Oil painting on canvas titled on the reverse 'A Present of Game’ 

Signed J.B. Russell at lower left.  

Frame: 41.5cmx52cm

John Bucknell Russell 1819-1893 

Born in Edinburgh and raised in Aberdeen, John Russell started his working life as a house painter. He settled at Fochabers where he had sporting commissions from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon and his friends who came to Castle Gordon for the hunting season. He also obtained commissions from Lord Lovatt in Inverness. 

Russell specialised in paintings of fish and game. He was a skilled wood carver, making models of Spey salmon to the exact measurements of the originals. These were carved in the old laundry workshop of Castle Gordon and painted by his daughter. Several of his children became artists, and he exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy.