English Country House King Charles Spaniels Victorian Oil Painting Circa 1880

nglish Country House King Charles Spaniels Victorian Oil Painting Circa 1880

Decorative Late 19th Century British Portrait of Blenheim and Tricolour Toy Spaniels in a Gilt Frame

Highlights

• Decorative Victorian British animal painting
• Circa 1880
• Pair of historic King Charles Spaniels
• Blenheim and Prince Charles colour varieties
• In the manner of John Dalby of York
• Oil on panel
• Atmospheric country-estate landscape
• Ornate gilt framed presentation
• Compact proportions ideal for an interior scheme
• Auction provenance
• Framed 31 cm x 34 cm x 4 cm
• Certificate supplied

Introduction

An intimate Victorian dog portrait with considerable decorative charm, depicting two King Charles Spaniels against a softly atmospheric country landscape.

The painting dates to circa 1880 and combines the warmth of traditional British animal portraiture with proportions particularly suited to today's layered interiors.

A chestnut-and-white Blenheim sits beside a darker Prince Charles tricolour, the two animals sharing the same alert gaze towards the right.

Decorative Character

The restrained rural palette of olive greens, browns and ochres allows the dogs' white, chestnut, black and tan coats to stand prominently within the composition.

An ornate gilt frame surrounds the panel, its raised laurel-leaf and berry-style ornament providing texture and architectural definition.

The result is a small painting with considerably more wall presence than its dimensions might suggest.

Country House Setting

The background suggests wooded parkland or the edge of an English country estate.

No particular location is claimed, but the landscape is closely aligned with the rural settings favoured within 19th-century British sporting and animal painting.

Artistic Context

Catalogued in the manner of John Dalby of York (1810–1865).

Dalby's animal subjects include dogs within rural landscapes, and his recorded King Charles Spaniels Seated in a Wooded Landscape provides an interesting comparison.

The present work is considered later and no authorship by Dalby is asserted.

Provenance

Amersham Auction Rooms, Buckinghamshire, 6 June 2024, Lot 218

Acquired from the above sale by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Dimensions

Height: 31 cm
Width: 34 cm
Depth: 4 cm

Frame

Decorative gilt wood and composition frame with raised foliate ornament and stepped inner moulding.

The frame forms part of the current presentation and is not represented as original.

Condition Report

Good used condition consistent with age.

Craquelure, surface marks, scattered abrasions, historic paint wear and small areas of disturbance are visible.

The frame has rubbing, chips, small losses and age-related imperfections.

No invasive conservation examination, ultraviolet examination or scientific analysis has been undertaken. Buyers should review the supplied photographs, which form an integral part of the condition description.

Collecting Interest

A highly versatile decorative painting for a study, library, hallway, bedroom, drawing room or salon wall.

Its subject also provides particular interest for collectors of Victorian canine portraiture and historic King Charles Spaniels.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

Owing to the historic framed presentation of the artwork, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, exhibition history and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis, dating and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available physical evidence, historic inscriptions, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.