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Lot note:
Working in the tradition of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, Maud Earl gained significant recognition for her sentimental portraits of dogs. Her expertise earned her commissions from Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and many other prominent figures of the English aristocracy and high society. She was equally known for her nearly encyclopedic knowledge in depicting all varieties of breeds. She believed that unless a painter had this knowledge, it would be wholly impossible for them to render individuality. The present painting, Four Friends, can thus be seen as more than a portrait of beloved pets – it is also a declaration of the artist’s mastery. This arrangement of dogs not only emphasizes their familial status, but also emphasizes the dramatic differences in size, shape, and coat of each dog. Earl was born in London to a family of animal painters and so this vocation most certainly suited her. She exhibited her work at the Royal Academy and at the Paris Salon before emigrating to the United States in 1916.