French still life portrait oil painting on wood, Edouard Auguste Ragu (1847-1923). 'Fruits of the Hunt' genre painting with a portrait of a dog. Featuring a Labrador Retriever, posed with a suspended trophy of the hunt, displaying pheasants. Signed and dated lower right, Ragu 1919. Housed in a wooden frame with gilt and black accents, green velvet mat surround. The back of the painting with a supplier label for E. Demay, merchants of paint, varnishes and glass panes. It was at the beginning of the 20th century that Mr. Demay set up his paint and varnish business at the corner of rue Royale and rue Jean Hupeau in Orleans. In overall good antique condition. Typical craquelure. Darkened varnish. Some frame wear along the top and bottom edges of the painting, a small area of paint loss on the wing feathers of the male pheasant, two dots of paint loss at the 12 o'clock.. Frame measures 16 1/8" x 13 3/4" x 1 5/8" deep. Portrait measures 10 5/8" x 8 3/8".
Edouard Auguste Ragu (1847-1923), French painter, was born in Paris on March 5, 1847 and died in Blois on September 19, 1923. A landscape by Ragu, titled Le Loir à Montoire, hangs in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois. Ragu exhibited charcoal drawings at the Salon de Paris from 1873 to 1882. He combined his artistic activity with that of employee of the École Polytechnique de Paris, between 1868 and 1899, reaching the rank of 1st class deputy office chief. He participated in the Franco-Prussian War between August 1870 and March 1871 with the rank of second lieutenant. He was appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour on January 24, 1900. He died unmarried.