A PAINTING of New Forest Foxhounds by the renowned sporting and animal artist John Emms is set to raise between $800,000 (£451,000) and $1,200,000 (£676,500) at auction in New York.

The painting, together with more than 200 other dog-related pictures including six others by John Emms, will go under the hammer at Bonhams' dog art sale on Valentine's Day.

Born in Norfolk in 1843, John Emms was the son of artist Henry William Emms.

John Emms first exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1866 and later worked as Frederic, Lord Leighton's assistant, helping him create The Ten Virgins fresco in Lyndhurst parish church in the New Forest.

He lived in Lyndhurst from 1872 until 1880 when he married Fanny Primmer, the daughter of a Lyndhurst gentleman.

He travelled extensively around the country carrying out commissions painting horses, hounds and dog portraits.

After the marriage he and his wife lived in London for a year but returned to Lyndhurst to live in The Firs in Queen's Road until his death in 1912.

He is buried in Lyndhurst churchyard.

New Forest Foxhounds was commissioned by Henry Powell, master of the New Forest Hunt during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

He loved his hounds so much he commissioned the leading animal painter of the day to capture them on canvas.

The result is regarded as one of John Emms' finest works and is expected to fetch up to $1,200,000, or £676,500, a world record for the artist.

The lot, which is being sold by Mr Powell's direct descendants, includes a copy of the original key, signed by Powell, recording the names and birth dates of each hound, and the Jack Russell terrier.

Other John Emms paintings going under the hammer in New York on February 14 include Hounds by a Kennel (expected to fetch $70,000-plus (£39,500) and A Group of Dandie Dinmonts ($40,000 to $60,000 (£22,500 to £34,000).

First published: February 1, 2006