The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
History
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
It is said--and results have proved how justly--that Landseer never
forgot a dog after once seeing it. "The Shepherd's Bible" is a rare
instance of this. Mr. Jacob Bell referred to this work as "the property
of a gentleman who was for many years a candidate for a picture by Sir
E. Landseer, and kept a collie dog in the hope that he might some day be
so fortunate as to obtain his portrait." The collie, however, died. Some
two years afterwards, its owner received a note from Sir Edwin
appointing a day for a sitting. Fortunately, he had provided himself
with another dog, hoping yet to secure the services of the greatest of
all animal painters, and taking the creature with him, kept the
appointment on the day named. He told Landseer that the old favourite
was dead, and gave a description of his colour and general appearance.
"Oh! yes," the painter replied, "I know the dog exactly," and he made a
sketch which proved the truth of his words. The picture was painted in
less than two days, and the portrait of the dead animal was exact, even
to the very expression of the dog's eye.
Landseer, too, was often very happy in his choice of a subject. "Dignity
and Impudence" is one of the treasures of the National Gallery, and
though the one is a fine bloodhound named "Grafton," and the other a
little terrier called "Scratch," it is likely that two gentlemen
innocently suggested the whole thing to him. It seems that one day
Landseer entered a picture shop, and was annoyed at the way in which he
was treated by one of the assistants, who mistook him for a customer,
and who addressed him in a style a trifle too pushing and businesslike
to suit his taste.
Just then the proprietor entered, a fine, handsome, dignified man.
"Well, have you got anything new in the way of a picture?" he asked.
"No," replied Landseer, "but I've just got a subject. I'll let you know
when it is finished." The result was the picture referred to, and it is
said that the grand bloodhound bore a striking resemblance to the
picture dealer, whilst the little terrier, presumably, was suggested by
the assistant; whose manner, after all, was simply that of a sharp man
of business.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account