The Eel catcher
Edmund Bristow was the son of an heraldic painter. He appeared indifferent to wealth and fame. He seldom worked to order and sometimes even refused to sell his finished pictures. Bristow was probably satisfied with the distinction that patronage from the Royal family brought him; he worked for the Duke of Clarence, William IV, Princess Elizabeth and Prince George. Despite this prestige, he lived the life of a recluse and died in such obscurity that the Art Journal could find nothing to say about him for his obituary. Most of Bristow's best works are produced on a small scale. He excelled in finely detailed compositions such as the Eel catcher, influenced by the Dutch old masters. His subject matter was wide, from interiors and still lifes to sporting art and pictures of rural life which show a deep understanding of the lives of countrymen and gamekeepers. The basket traps in this painting are very detailed. The bung for emptying the trap can just be seen at the narrow end of the upright basket. Netting traps were also used for catching eels.
