Chisholm Gallery

Voss, Franklin Brooke

American, (1880-1953)

Franklin B. Voss enjoyed an enviable sporting life and painted glorious scenes of American hunting and racing. He was born in New York City, a member of one of America’s greatest sporting families. Frank, his sister Jessie, and his three brothers Edward (Ned), Neilson, and Stuart all foxhunted from an early age. All five of them also had great artistic talent. Frank’s genius for painting was quite evident by his teen years. He studied for seven years at the Art Student’s League of New York under George Bridgman, with special attention to anatomy.

Frank Voss thoroughly knew and loved his subject matter. He painted the great thoroughbred race horses of his day such as Man o ‘War and Citation. He had ridden in flat and steeplechase races as a young man. Frank Voss painted many great foxhunting ladies and gentlemen, their horses and hounds. He rode behind many great packs.

The account of his death is a sporting legend: he was in the first flight behind the Elkridge-Harford hounds who were running beautifully. At a check, in view of his favorite bit of country, he tumbled from his horse, dead of a heart attack. Fortunately, his paintings preserve his vision of a beautiful sporting world and time. – Barclay Rives