Brief History of the Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in London displaying artworks collected primarily by four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. It is located in Hertford House, the main London residence of the Seymour family, who were Marquesses of Hertford.
The oldest parts of the house date back to the late 18th century when Francis Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford, decided to substantially reconstruct it. After his death in 1870, the house and collection were left to his illegitimate son, Sir Richard Wallace. Wallace expanded the collection considerably with both fine and decorative arts, essentially creating the museum in its current form.
When Sir Richard Wallace died in 1890, he bequeathed the house and collection to his widow Lady Wallace for her lifetime. After her death in 1897, the house and collection were opened to the public as the national Wallace Collection museum we see today. It displays paintings, sculpture, furniture, arms & armor, porcelain, gold boxes, miniature paintings, and other arts from the 15th to 19th centuries.
The museum is located just north of Oxford Street in Central London. Since it’s opening, it has served as an inspiration for artists and connoisseurs who admire its world-class collections. The works on display originated primarily from France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Notable Portraits of Dogs
One of the most famous dog portraits in the Wallace Collection is Jean-Baptiste Oudry’s Two Spaniels and a Pheasant, painted in the 1740s. This majestic and detailed painting depicts two hunting spaniels staring intently at a pheasant perched on a tree stump, perfectly capturing the alert and poised nature of the dogs preparing for the hunt. Oudry was the leading French animalier painter of his time and completed many royal commissions for King Louis XV’s palace at Versailles, including this work that highlights his incredible skill and attention to detail in animal portraiture.
Another highlight is Edwin Landseer’s portrait of Van, A Terrier Belonging To E. Landseer Esq, painted around 1830. Landseer was Queen Victoria’s favorite artist and this intimate portrait of his own beloved pet dog shows Van sitting and staring directly at the viewer with soulful eyes. Landseer brilliantly captures the unique personality and mood of this individual terrier, set against a finely detailed natural background. The artist considered this a tribute portrait to his companion who had sadly passed away shortly before it was completed.
There are also more modern dog portraits like David Hockney’s Dachshunds from 1995, done in his characteristic colorful and abstract style. And Andy Warhol’s iconic screenprint portraits of individual pedigreed dogs from the 1980s, which reflect his fascination with pop culture and celebrity. These and other more contemporary works showcase the evolution of dog portraiture through the centuries within the Wallace Collection.
Artists Featured
The Wallace Collection’s collection of dog portraits includes works by prominent artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, Sir Edwin Landseer, and Thomas Gainsborough. Some key artists featured include:
Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-1873) was one of the foremost animal painters of the 19th century. He was famous for painting animals, particularly dogs, and received many commissions from Queen Victoria for portraits of her pets and other animals. His works in the Wallace Collection include Portrait of a Pointer Dog and Portrait of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a Cat.
George Stubbs (1724-1806) was an English painter best known for his anatomical paintings of horses. He also painted dogs and other animals. His work Two Greyhounds with a Groom in the Wallace Collection demonstrates his skilled observation of canine anatomy and posture.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) was a leading 18th century English portrait painter. Though best known for painting aristocratic human subjects, he also painted dogs as seen in his work Portrait of a Dog Looking Over a Wall in the Wallace Collection.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was one of the most celebrated portrait painters of 18th century Britain. In addition to human portraits, he painted landscapes and animals including dogs like in his painting Two Dogs, Juno and Jupiter. His expressive brushwork brings the dogs to life.
Most Unique Portraits
The Wallace Collection’s exhibition “Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney” features many unusual and distinctive portraits of dogs that offer a glimpse into the unique relationships between dogs and their owners over the centuries.
One of the most unique portraits is Edwin Landseer’s painting Dignity and Impudence from 1839, which depicts a small Scottish terrier staring longingly up at the food on a dining table, while a bloodhound sits stoically beside him (Wallace Collection). The contrast between the dignified hound and the impudent terrier makes for an amusing scene that reveals the different temperaments of the two breeds.
William Hogarth’s 1742 portrait of Trump, the pug dog of 1st Viscount Weymouth, captures the dog mid-yawn, with his tongue curling out. Hogarth brilliantly depicts the pug’s wrinkled face and languid, sleepy expression (Smithsonian Magazine).
The exhibition also includes Andy Warhol’s quirky screenprint portraits of dachshunds from the 1980s, which typify his ironic, pop art style. With their long bodies, short legs, and various unnatural colors like green, orange, and blue, Warhol’s whimsical dachshunds offer a modern, avant-garde take on canine portraiture (Wallpaper*).
These examples demonstrate how artists have captured dogs’ endearing and comical qualities in creative ways, showcasing their beloved pets’ distinctive appearances and personalities.
Portrayal of Dogs Over Time
Dogs have been featured in artworks for thousands of years, with some of the earliest known depictions found in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. In early Western art, dogs were often shown as symbols or attributes of various gods and mythological figures, such as Diana and Pan. During the Renaissance, as interest in naturalism and realism grew, artists began to paint dogs more true to life and as portraits. Dogs became a popular subject for many painters, with breeds like greyhounds featured in Venetian Renaissance paintings. According to https://artuk.org/discover/stories/painting-dogs-in-renaissance-venice, “They evidence a changing society, the new popularity of dogs mirroring an increasingly aristocratic Venice.”
Later, in the 19th century, dogs emerged frequently in sporting art and animal paintings. Many artists such as Sir Edwin Landseer and Rosa Bonheur specialized in detailed portrayals of popular dog breeds. As photography developed and the relationship between dogs and humans grew even closer, dog portraiture flourished. Modern and contemporary artists continue to explore innovative stylistic representations of man’s best friend.
Symbolism and Meaning
The dog portraits at the Wallace Collection convey symbolic meaning beyond just capturing the likeness of the animals. As noted in the Art UK article, “Beyond capturing naturalistic likenesses, dog portraits can also carry great meaning” (https://artuk.org/discover/stories/paw-traits-of-dogs-at-the-wallace-collection).
Dogs have long been associated with loyalty, fidelity, and companionship. Portraits with dogs often represented these qualities in their human owners as well. For example, Gainsborough’s portrait of Mr and Mrs Robert Andrews with their dog emphasizes their close relationship. The Studio International review points out that dogs could also symbolize high social status and wealth.
Certain breeds held special meaning – greyhounds were seen as noble and elegant. Landseer’s portraits focused on the personalities of the dogs themselves and humanized them. The Hyperallergic article notes that the variety of dog portraits at the Wallace Collection provide “complimentary companion pieces to the human story.” Overall, the symbolic role of dogs evolved over time from status symbols to beloved pets.
Restoration Efforts
The Wallace Collection has undertaken extensive restoration and conservation efforts for many of the portraits in its collection, including the dog portraits, in order to preserve these masterpieces for future generations. According to the website, conservators carefully clean the paintings, repair any damage, and restore damaged areas (Wallace Collection).
Some of the notable restoration projects have included Sir Edwin Landseer’s painting The Old Shepherd’s Chief Mourner from around 1837, which underwent cleaning and restoration of the canvas. Thomas Gainsborough’s painting Fino and Billy, from 1748, also had its aging varnish carefully removed to reveal the vivid colors underneath. In addition, Philip de László’s portrait of Launce from 1907 was relined and restored due to heavy cracking (Smithsonian Magazine).
Through painstaking restoration work, the Wallace Collection’s team of experts ensures these historic dog portraits can continue to be appreciated and studied for their artistic mastery and cultural significance.
Related Collections
While the Wallace Collection’s portraits of dogs are unique, there are some other notable galleries with similar works worth mentioning. The National Gallery in London has a few examples of dog portraits from the same time period, including a painting titled Dog and Duck by Jean-Baptiste Oudry from 1751 (Source). The Louvre in Paris also houses some dog portraits from French artists like Jean-Baptiste Greuze. In the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has some 18th century dog paintings in its collection, though not quite as many portraits as the Wallace Collection.
For those interested in seeing or commissioning modern dog portraits, there are options like Crown & Paw that do custom pet painting using photos. Local artists in most areas also do dog portraits upon commission as well. While the Wallace Collection remains unique in its quantity of quality dog portraits from the 18th and 19th centuries, there are some other opportunities to view similar works in major museums or via modern artists.
Visiting the Collection
The Wallace Collection is located in Hertford House in central London, near Baker Street and Bond Street tube stations. The museum is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm (https://www.wallacecollection.org/visit/). Admission is free for all visitors.
The collection is fully accessible, with lifts to upper floors and wheelchair access throughout. There are accessible toilets and seating areas available on all floors. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Photography is allowed (without flash) for personal, non-commercial purposes. The museum has a cafe, shop, and cloakroom facilities. Guided tours are available to book.
As a national museum in a historic building, the Wallace Collection offers a unique opportunity to view world-class artworks in an intimate, domestic setting. Visitors can admire the collection while experiencing what it might have felt like to visit as a guest of the original owners.
Significance of the Collection
The collection of dog portraits at the Wallace Collection holds great cultural and artistic significance. It represents a unique archive of how dogs have been depicted throughout art history, providing insight into changing attitudes and symbolism around man’s best friend.
Spanning 500 years of portraiture, the collection shows the enduring appeal of dogs as subjects for artists. As highlighted in the exhibition Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney, it includes works by acclaimed painters like Gainsborough, Reynolds, Stubbs and Landseer. Their masterful portraits elevated the image of dogs in art.
Beyond pure aesthetics, the paintings also reflect the important roles dogs have played in society – as beloved pets, loyal companions, status symbols, hunting aides, and guardians. The variety of breeds and situations depicted provide a window into cultural attitudes and practices surrounding dogs across different eras.
As a singular collection devoted to capturing the human-canine bond through art, the Wallace Collection’s dog portraits have special value. The curation offers insight into how artists approached the challenge of portraying animal subjects and personality. It also allows viewers to connect to history through dogs as an accessible, emotive subject matter.