Dog Painting

A pictorial history of the range of dog paintings created in 19th-century Europe. While the artists' different styles are of interest in themselves, it is the subject matter of these paintings which provides an insight into the similarities and differences between the different dogs of Europe.

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A pictorial history of the range of dog paintings created in 19th-century Europe. While English artists certainly dominated the field, many European artists such as Rosa Bonheur, Alfred de Dreux, Charles Olivier de Penne and Charles van den Eyken produced a range of paintings depicting the dog. Over 50 breeds are depicted in these paintings, from the lap dogs and hunting dogs of the aristocracy to the common shepherds' dogs who were prized for their keen working abilities. Great Britain was the epicentre for dog painting during the 19th century. With the rise of the middle class and an attendant increase in leisure time, the showing of dogs became an important pastime. Owners of show dogs and sporting dogs alike wanted their animals immortalized by the prominent artists of the day. This trend was accelerated with the involvement of Queen Victoria and the precedent of her great fondness for dogs. While the artists' different styles are of interest in themselves, it is the subject matter of these paintings which provides an insight into the similarities and differences between the different dogs of Europe.