Scottish Terriers Hunting In The Highlands

Charming painting of dogs representing 3 terriers hunting in the Scottish Highlands. They are watching for their prey which has taken refuge in a hole in the ground in the middle of a "cairn", that is to say a pile of stones collapsed. Hence their name: Cairn terriers, the oldest representatives of Scottish terriers. The painting, an oil on canvas, is signed lower left "Gordon". It is Sir John Watson Gordon, born in Edinburgh in 1790 and died in the same city in 1864. He specialized in the portrait and "soothsayer in this genre (...) the undisputed leader of the Scottish School. He was one of the founders of the Royal Scottish Academy and was elected president in 1850. On the same date he was ennobled and appointed first painter of Queen Victoria for the Kingdom of Scotland." etc. Bénézit, volume 5, p. 116. On several of his portraits people are accompanied by animals (dogs, horses) The painting is in good condition. Note 2 patches on his back. 19th century giltwood frame.