French School Artist, Portrait of Boy with Dog, 1800s, Oil on Canvas, Framed

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Child's Portrait "Boy with Dog", French School, 19th century – France

Excellent painting depicting a small boy, with a serene … Read more Child's Portrait "Boy with Dog", French School, 19th century – France

Excellent painting depicting a small boy, with a serene face and mischievous gaze, holding a ball in one hand while with the other he strokes or holds a large dog, probably a Saint Bernard (a breed typical in scenes of protection or companionship with children). The composition establishes a balance between tenderness and protection, between the ephemeral nature of children's play and animal loyalty, attributes frequently exalted in 19th-century portraiture. The soft lighting and meticulous details of the clothing and the dog's coat reveal the artist's technical skill, which falls within the bourgeois taste for intimate and personalized portraits. This is based on one of the most recognized works by the French artist Paul Martin (1821–1901). This work is of extraordinary quality, as, despite the neutral background, the artist manages to generate space using a careful and precise technique.

During the 19th century in France, child portraiture acquired notable importance, not only as a manifestation of family affection but also as a sign of status and dynastic continuity within the emerging upper and middle classes. These images sought to preserve the memory of childhood as an idealized stage, charged with moral values, purity, and domesticity. In a context where academic painting coexisted with new movements such as realism and impressionism, child portraiture allowed for a sensitive exploration of the individual from their earliest years, helping to consolidate the image of childhood as an emotionally and socially valuable territory.

The 19th century has sometimes been called "The Century of the Portrait." from its very beginning, portraiture was associated with figures endowed with economic, social, or political power that they wished to display and perpetuate. However, it enjoyed its golden age during the 19th century, especially during the last third, as it became a coveted form of distinction among those who could afford it. It spread to all types of techniques: painting, sculpture, medals, miniatures, watercolors, drawings, etchings, lithography, photography… Furthermore, the influence of photography and the approach of the arts to realism led to the depiction of effigies with an ever-increasing naturalism.

Media: Oil on canvas
Title of the work: "Boy with Dog"
Author: French School, after Paul Martin (1821 – 1901)
Period: 19th century
Country of origin: France
Good condition according to its age and use
Overall dimensions: 142 x 115 cm
Dimensions without frame: 118 x 93 cm

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