Maasai Prince - the first in the 'Bejewelled' series
By Grenville Moore
Original artwork
Acrylic on wood panel
Framed
Image size: H: 60cm x W: 50cm
Framed size: H: 73cm x W: 63cm
How's this for stunning and inventive wildlife art? Painted this spring by an artist who loves animals and, especially, loves to create portraits of wild animals. This one is the first of a new 2025 series, inspired by his safari to Kenya.
In a clever creative touch, to anticipate and reflect the 'Indulgence' theme of our summer 2025 exhibition, Grenville has added an adornment to the head of this Maasai zebra in the form of a traditional Maasai necklace.
The Grévy's zebra, also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest living wild equid and the most threatened of the three species of zebra. Named after French president Jules Grévy, it is found in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Grenville perfectly captures the different fur textures of the creatures face, the great shock of hair and the distinctly-erect mane, the whiskery nose and chin, the large mule-like ears and the wonderful expressiveness of the gentle and inquisitive regard.
This is a statement piece, celebrating the majesty of wild animals and drawing our attention, once again, to a population that is is dangerous decline.
ABOUT GRENVILLE MOORE
Grenville is an accomplished and distinctive painter working from his idyllic garden studio in a small village on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border.
After many years when illustration, design and cartoon strips were his hobby, he became a specialist decorator and muralist and completed assignments and commissions in homes throughout the Cotswolds and London. He also wrote and illustrated articles for two national publications. Among his projects were a large painted vase for the Ralph Lauren store in Barcelona and various items of painted furniture.
These decorative and interior design skills remain with him - and very much on show - in his paintings of wild animals, many of which are enhanced and embellished with backgrounds of rich tapestry motifs, Arcadian glades and medieval-style foliage. His love of heraldry also shines through in clever motifs and touches of symbolism.
A trip to Kenya first sparked his enchantment with wild animals and birds and inspired his current, very popular work which specialises in dramatic animals portraits, often large scale and close-up. Detail and accuracy are key. He is passionate about telling the story of each creature, accentuating the unusual and celebrating the wildness, dignity and soul of each animal. The rich narrative of the painting is often further enhanced by its elaborate or traditional framing, matching perfectly with the inventive, decorative backdrops.
Grenville's work is in private collections in America, Russia and throughout the UK.