Portrait Of A Dog By Johannes Siegwald Dahl (1827-1902)

Very nice portrait of a dog, a curly-haired bichon, with his master. The latter has taught him a training act. Proudly he holds in his mouth a small chain at the end of which hangs a small metal cup, matching a container of the same material, placed on an amber-colored fabric. The subject of the painting is the dog, his master, probably a fairground worker, is part of the dark background. His face, his long hair and his large hat are dimly lit. The bichon, on the other hand, captures all the light. The creamy white of his fur, the metal objects illuminated by a warm and intense light and the amber-colored fabric create a spectacular chiaroscuro effect with the brown tones of the background. This is a work by the animal painter Johannes Siegwald Dahl, born in 1827 in Dresden. He was one of the nine children of the animal painter Johannes Christian Dahl. His first art lessons were given to him by his father. Later he studied animal painting with JF Wilhelm Werner and in London with Edwin Landseer. He also spent some time in Paris. Our painting dates from the artist's stay in Paris. It is signed and dated "Dahl Paris 1876" After cleaning and revarnishing it is in very good condition. A non-through crack in the panel has been consolidated and is barely visible. Its gilded wooden frame is beautiful and contributes to the warm effect of the whole