Toy Dogs In Art Part III: Children And Dogs in Paintings

The artist Sir Joshua Reynolds painted dogs into his portraits
especially when he was painting children, which he did often.
The most frequently seen dog was the King Charles spaniels. In
one of his famous paintings, a portrait of ‘Maria Gideon and her
brother’ in Viscount Cowdray’s collection, the dog was a rather
large long-nosed version of the King Charles. The King Charles
spaniel has one paw raised as if clearly ready for a game with
the boy whom he looks as if he obviously adores in spite of the
fact that boy is carrying a stick. The boy is probably about to
throw the stick and the King Charles spaniel is waiting
anxiously for this to occur.



Above: Sir Joshua Reynolds, A Self Portrait circa 1750

In Sir Joshua Reynolds painting of the family of George, 3rd
Duke of Marlborough, which is part of the collection of the Duke
of Marlborough, Reynolds uses Cavaliers.

Photo Below: Family of George, 3rd Duke of Marborough



Although Sir Joshua Reynolds depicts the Cavaliers a lot in his
paintings, he may have had a favorite dog that looked like a
Shih Tzu. This dog appears in the portraits of ‘Princess Sophia
Matilda of Gloucester’ in the collection of Windsor Castle,
‘Emelia Vansittart’, Mrs. Crewe, and in the portrait of Mrs.
Abington as Miss Prue in Love for Love.


Above: Matilda of Gloucester (Princess Sophia as a young child)


Above: The Three Youngest Daughters of King George III

Most portrait painters made a habit to have their painting studio well-equipped with
lay figures, costumes, drapes and other accessories. The person
actually being painted only posed for short periods of time. The
actual physical details which included these other accessories
were painted at the painter’s leisure without the model needing
to be present.

This little dog that appears to look like a Shih Tzu was in a good many of his portraits. One can assume this dog

must have been his “pet,” which remained in the studio with him
as did all the other accessories. The Shih Tzu just adores an
audience and attention. He probably just loved being this
painter’s pet and painting accessory while getting a lot of
attention from the society beauties and children of his time.

Other dogs painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds were the pug, a toy
poodle or perhaps a bichon. The dog was small, white and
long-coated, and appeared in a great number of his paintings.

Other interesting toy dogs appear in many paintings which tell
us a story of the important part that the toy dogs played in
people’s social life. From allegory, down to fairly recent
paintings of either the genre type of the family portrait, the
dog and often toy dogs has appeared in his part of the family.

The families painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds had their spaniels
and terriers. Diana had her greyhounds. The French had their
poodles. We learn from these paintings that the toy dog and
other dogs were regular companions of men, women and families
and sit in very acceptable positions as members of the
household.

There are many things written about dogs and toy dogs, but
nothing can take the place of a “visual story,” a beautiful
painting, to tell us just how important the toy dog has been to
us as a companion all down through time. And….in the 16th
century the paintings are proof that toy spaniels really did
exist.

It is not a sudden fad or any surprise the pet and pet care
businesses today are one of the most booming businesses of our
time.  Toy dogs and dogs in general have always held important
positions in our lives and in our hearts.


Above: Return of the Holy Family From Egypt circa 1616 by Jacob Jordaens

One good example of a painting that tells us the story of how
little dogs were quite comical and irresistibly loveable little
clowns is the little dog in ‘Portrait of a Man and Woman’ by
Jacob Jordaens in the National Gallery, of London. It was
included by the artist but seems to not be really involved with
the sitters in the painting, although the toy dog could have
belonged to the couple. The toy dog sits at the man’s feet,
looking out of the painting with the most delightful and comical
expression. It could have been a Maltese or a bichon frise. The
story this painting tells us for certain is that there was a
little toy dog (of some sort) that at least one portrait painter
found “irresistible.” These are characteristics of all toy dogs
and part of what make them so popular to us today. You will not
find this type of charm in a German Shepherd or a Beagle hound!

Toy Dogs in Art Series continued in Part IV.

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