John Emms is considered to be one of England's most important sporting and animal painters. Born in Norfolk in 1843, Emms worked for a time as the studio assistant to Lord Leighton, then known as Frederick Leighton. With Leighton, Emms traveled to Lyndhurst where he found inspiration in the region's abundant wildlife. He later moved to Lyndhurst in 1872, and as an accomplished horseman, his hunting activities proved advantageous in finding subjects for his work.

Emms was often commissioned by his clientele to paint portraits of their beloved hounds and dogs, and his work is admired for its appearance of vitality that reveals the personality of the subject.