Study Of A Sleeping Spaniel - Attributed To Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873)

Study of a Sleeping King Charles Spaniel attributed to Sir Henry Edwin Landseer (1802 - 1873). This rare and recently rediscovered 19th-century oil study reveals why Landseer was so popular in Victorian Britain and why his reputation as an animal painter was unrivalled. In this fine, swiftly executed work with masterful brushstrokes, the artist manages not only to capture the physicality of the animal but also to reveal something of its character. In fact, Landseer's paintings of dogs in the service of humanity were so popular and influential, and he was so skilled at imbuing them with human characteristics, that the name Landseer became 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, particularly famous for his paintings of animals, especially dogs. The artist was famous during his lifetime and his appeal crossed social lines, with prints of his work common in the homes of the working and middle classes, while his paintings were popular with the wealthy and aristocracy. Queen Victoria and Albert commissioned many paintings from him, and Landseer became a frequent guest at court. He began by painting various royal pets (among the best 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 Victoria and Albert to engrave 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 fancy dress balls, to which he himself was a guest. One of his last paintings was a life-size equestrian portrait of the Queen, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1873, made from earlier sketches. Landseer loved Scotland and it provided him with the subjects and settings for several of his most famous paintings, including The Hunt at Chevy Chase (1825–26), An Illicit Whisky Still in the Highlands (1826–29), the majestic stag study The Monarch of the Glen (1851) (now in the Scottish National Gallery), and Rent Day in the Wilderness (1855–68). 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 reverse images for stencils. High resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available. Canvas: 13.5" x 9.5" / 34.5 cm x 24 cm. Framed: 10" x 19" / 26 cm x 49 cm.