Artwork
Portrait of a Puppy
Portrait of a Puppy is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created around the middle of the nineteenth century, this oil painting presents a young dog rendered with careful observation.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece functions as a portrait within the animal art genre, depicting a puppy as its sole subject.
Created in 1850 by Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen, this work is an oil painting executed on canvas. The piece functions as a portrait within the animal art genre, depicting a puppy as its sole subject. Physically, the support measures 15.5 cm in height and 18 cm in width, indicating a small-scale format.
The application of oil paint on this textile ground allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of the artist's approach to animal subjects during this period.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1850 by Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen. By 1850 it entered the collection of Arnoldus Andries des Tombe, who later bequeathed it to the Rijksmuseum. The painting has remained in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings since receipt of the bequest.
The painting Portrait of a Puppy by Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It was originally owned by Arnoldus Andries des Tombe. The work is classified as animal art and was created in 1850 using oil paint on canvas, measuring 15.5 cm in height and 18 cm in width.
No specific accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
Created around the middle of the nineteenth century, this oil painting presents a young dog rendered with careful observation. The work resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is displayed among other examples of Dutch genre painting. Its modest size and intimate subject invite close viewing, emphasizing the animal’s presence within a simple, warm setting.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a small puppy, its head turned gently toward the viewer’s right. The animal’s coat displays a range of brown tones, highlighted by a lighter patch on the chest, suggesting a sense of innocence and domestic comfort. The composition conveys a quiet moment of repose, inviting contemplation of the bond between humans and their companion animals.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen
Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen (1811–1891) was an artist, born in Nijmegen.
