The Poacher's Snare
In this painting Buttery has chosen to depict the dramatic moment when a poacher has just been caught red handed. The figure with the gun may be the landowner out shooting, as emphasised by the country house in the background. His rather rustic clothing, however, indicates that he could be the master's gamekeeper. Both poacher and faithful hound look fittingly shamed; the dog hangs his head whilst the poacher, stricken and shocked, holds his hand to his face in a dramatic gesture of remorse. This scene depicts a real life situation of the kind that most of Buttery's contemporaries, such as John Constable (1776-1837) were shying away from in favour of more idealistic and harmonious representations of country life. Charles Buttery was a Hull-based painter who lived off George Street and Savile Street with his brother George, also an artist. Little else is known about him except that he showed works at the 1829 Hull Art Exhibition with George. Charles' other brother Thomas was a 'bird and animal preserver', or taxidermist, in George Street in the 1830s and 40s. A large number of his birds were shown at the 1845 Hull Mechanics Exhibition.
