"Lion at Bay" Giclée canvas print: 18"x24", edition size 100 s/n $1,035 unframed

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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 Rainey’s 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. Shelley’s 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 lion’s trail. The dogs picked up the lion’s 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 lion’s 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: Shelley’s horse, Alan Black, Outram and Rainey.