This charming late 19th-century oil painting by English artist Edwin Frederick Holt (1830-1912) depicts two treasured family animals - Puggy the bay and Jock the terrier.
Standing patiently beneath a stable sign bearing his name, Puggy shares his stable with a faithful companion, Jock, who sits proudly on his own blanket, embroidered 'L.L.'. Another neatly folded blanket carries the initials 'W.L.', suggesting that this adorable pair were very much part of the family. The initials often referred to the owners, so both probably shared a surname. It's interesting to think whether Jock was owned by the daughter of 'W.L.' and perhaps made sure that he was included in the portrait.
Edwin Frederick Holt understood that the strongest animal portraits were about character. Puggy stands with confidence, while Jock appears alert and content. Together, they create a portrayal of companionship.
This sense of affection made the painting a natural fit for one of its later homes. It formed part of the collection at Halsdon House, the Devon home of Charlie Watts (the drummer in The Rolling Stones) and Shirley Watts. Away from the stage, the Watts family devoted much of their lives to breeding and caring for Arabian horses, and their home reflected a lifelong love of animals.
Holt began his career as a prize-winning student at the Royal Academy Schools, receiving the Academy's prestigious silver medal in 1854. Although he first painted portraits and ambitious historical subjects, he later became one of Victorian Britain's most accomplished painters of horses, dogs, and rural life. His greatest talent lay in observing animals with warmth and honesty.
Signed, dated and inscribed in the lower right and held in a gilt frame.
Learn more about Edwin Frederick Holt in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 27½” x 21” / 70cm x 55cm
Year of creation: 1883
Labels & Inscriptions: Arthur Ackermann & Sons Ltd label on the reverse.
Provenance: With Arthur Ackermann & Sons Ltd, London / With Charlie and Shirley Watts, Halsdon House, Devon.
Condition: Cleaned. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £7,525 achieved in 2002 for ‘The Marquis of Bristol's Prize Winning Suffolk Sheep (1887)’.
Our reference: BRV2320
