Year: 19th Century Size: 48 x 18 Inches Medium: Oil Description: Fine large 19th Century Artic Exploration scene of Polar Bears from the failed John Franklin Expedition of 1845, oil on canvas. Large panorama of two polar bears amid human remains. It come from a version of Landseers "Man proposes, God disposes" depicting the mysterious disappearance of John Franklin in his crews attempt to find an important North West passage. The Victorians were obsessed with the fate of Franklin and his crew and Landseer produced a similar version to this suggesting the brutality of nature in the pursuit of human exploration. This version was painted during Landseers active period and may be a preparatory work or by a pupil of his. It is the only alternate version we have found of Landseers work that now famously hangs at Royal Holloway. Good codition for its age, one small perforation.. Would be enhanced with a professional clean. Unframed. Measurements: 48 x 18 inches framed approx