Dogs at Play (1828) by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73). Source: “Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” (1875): 259. “Lent by C. W. Mansel Lewis, Esq., Stradey, LLanelly” [Click on image to enlarge it.] Formatting and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document, or cite it in a print one.]
Commentary in the Art-Journal
We have given [this picture] the title of ‘Dogs at Bay.’ In 1828 Landseer painted a picture, now in the possession of Colonel Peers Williams, that he called ‘Jocko with a Hedgehog'; and in our engraving are Jocko and a companion attacking a hedgehog as fiercely as they dare: we have ourselves witnessed some such encounter as this, which generally ends in the defeat of the dog: the thorny bristles of the little animal present a formidable barrier to its enemy's tender jaws, and the dog rarely makes a second attempt to seize it, generally being contented with using his feet to roll it over; and even that is done very cautiously. A combat of this kind is most amusing, for little harm is done on either side. The clever and humorous sketch we have engraved, is drawn on buff paper with a pencil, chalk being used for the lights. [259]
Bibliography
“Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” Art-Journal (1875): 257-60. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 24 March 2014
Last modified 25 March 2014