"Lion at Bay"
Acrylic on Panel 18x24
SOLD
Wealthy American Sportsman Paul J. Rainey
had a big idea. Or was it a crazy idea? Either way, it would
take him and a pack of hounds from his home in Mississippi to
hunt lion in British East Africa.
The hunting fraternity at that time,
Frederick Courtney Selous being the most notable, thought the
idea was a bad one and that it would have a detrimental impact
on the lion population. Despite this Rainey took his hundred
or so dogs to Africa in 1912.
My painting depicts Raineys first
lion hunt with the hounds. Having found a likely location for
lion, on a hill to the west of their camp, the hunting party
divided into separate groups. Rainey, Alan Black and Dr. Johnson
went west, whilst George Outram took the porters east; E.R.Shelley
was to stay with the dogs until called upon by the others. Two
male lions were sighted and Rainey, Black and Johnson rode behind
them at a safe distance. A native runner was sent to get Shelley
and direct him and the dogs to the other hunters. Shelleys
location was misidentified so it was quite some time before Shelley
caught up to his companions who by now had singled out one of
the lions. Swinging his tail angrily he had stopped and was growling
loudly. He seemed to want to stand his ground and challenge his
predators. Black made sure that the hunters kept a safe distance
until Shelley arrived with the dogs. Shelley could see his fellow
hunters now about half a mile ahead, but to reach them he unknowingly
crossed the lions trail. The dogs picked up the lions
scent and went heading in his direction. Shelley was unaware
that his companions were on the lion nor knew where it was. He
thought the dogs had picked up another scent and was trying to
hold them back. Gradually, unbeknownst to him, he and his horse
were being drawn nearer and nearer to the hidden lion. Dr. Johnson
tried desperately to catch his attention and warn Shelley of
the impending danger. Shelley dismounted and let the dogs go
it was only then that he realized he was only 30-40 feet
from the lion. Luckily for Shelley, the dogs controlled the lions
attention, giving him time to remount and ride off to join the
others. Now they all dismounted and as the dogs were at bay,
they walked in a line towards the lion and shot him. The painting
shows in the background, left to right: Shelleys horse,
Alan Black, Outram and Rainey.
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