A STUDY OF A SLEEPING SPANIEL - ATTRIBUTED TO SIR EDWIN HENRY LANDSEER (1802-1873)

A study of a sleeping King Charles spaniel attributed to Sir Henry Edwin Landseer (1802 - 1873).

This rare and recently rediscovered 19th century study in oil reveals why Landseer was so very popular in Victorian Britain, and why his reputation as an animal painter was unrivalled. In this fine and rapidly executed work with bravura brushstrokes, not only does the artist manage to capture the animals physique, he also manages to reveal a little of its character.

In fact so popular and influential were Landseer’s paintings of dogs in the service of humanity, and so talented was he in imbuing them with human characteristics, that the name Landseer came to be the official name for a variety of Newfoundland dog

Oil on canvas in a later giltwood frame. 

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer RA (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) Sir Edwin Landseer was an English painter and sculptor, that was specifically celebrated for his paintings of animals, particularly dogs. The artist was celebrated in his lifetime and his appeal crossed the class boundaries with engravings of his work common in working and middle-class homes, while his paintings were popular with the wealthy and the aristocracy.

Queen Victoria and Albert commissioned numerous pictures from the artist, and Landseer became a frequent guest at Court. He began initially by painting various royal pets, (some of the most well-known are the painting of 'Eos' in 1841 and 'Her majesty's favourite pets' in 1837/8), followed later by portraits of ghillies and gamekeepers. He taught both Victoria and Albert to etch, and made portraits of Victoria's children as babies, usually in the company of a dog. He also made two portraits of Victoria and Albert dressed for costume balls, at which he was a guest himself. One of his last paintings was a life-size equestrian portrait of the Queen, shown at the Royal Academy in 1873, made from earlier sketches.

Landseer loved Scotland and it provided the subjects and settings for many of his most recignised paintings including 'The Hunting of Chevy Chase' (1825–26), 'An Illicit Whisky Still in the Highlands' (1826–1829), the majestic stag study 'The Monarch of the Glen' (1851) (now in the Scottish National Gallery) and 'Rent Day in the Wilderness' (1855–1868). In 1828, he was commissioned to produce illustrations for the Waverley Edition of Sir Walter Scott's novels.

Provenance: Private collection Switzerland until 2024. See images of verso for stencils.

Higher resolution images on request.  Worldwide shipping available.

Canvas: 13.5” x 9.5" / 34.5cm x 24cm.  Framed: 10" x  19" / 26cm x 49cm.

Price: £8800