Brown and White Norfolk or Water Spaniel

The Norfolk Spaniel, which no longer exists as a pure breed, was used by sportsmen to spring and retrieve game from water. George Stubbs presents the animal as the slightly melancholy hero of its own watery world, looming like a giant over riverbanks, water plants, and weeping willow.

George Stubbs was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses. Self-trained, Stubbs learnt his skills independently from other great artists of the 18th century, such as Reynolds or Gainsborough. Stubbs' output includes history paintings, but his greatest skill was in painting animals, perhaps influenced by his love and study of anatomy.

If you're looking for even more art history (and dogs from art history) in your everyday life, please check our 2022 DailyArt Desk and Wall Calendars here.  :)

P.S. Here you can see a selection of dog breeds in the most famous paintings.  Cute, isn't it?  :)