Angling and fishing fans will be familiar with the firm Hardy of Alnwick. In 1872 William Hardy set up shop as a gunsmith. When his brother John James Hardy (1854-1932), a passionate angler, joined the firm they began specialising in fishing equipment.
John James became the most famous angler of his day and wrote books including Champion Professional Salmon and Trout Caster of Europe and had won more championship events than any other man in the British Empire by the time of his death.
Hardy is depicted in this full-length oil painting beside a gun cabinet, holding a fishing fly, with his faithful dog lying at his feet. It was painted by Edmond Hodgson Smart in 1907.