This late-19th-century oil painting by Scottish artist James Coutts Michie (1859-1919) depicts an obedient terrier wearing a chain with a blue bow.
With his lop-sided ears, squashed face, and tiny back legs, this pooch is a truly charming creature. Seated within, what appears to be, a curtained-off area of the home, a young Michie has gone to great lengths to present the right impression. It’s probably one of his earliest known works.
The love one has for their family pet is boundless and throughout the decades, numerous owners have taken it upon themselves to paint their beloved animals. The poet Wordsworth famously had a similar portrait of his terrier, Pepper, hanging above the mantelpiece at Dove Cottage. So perhaps it’s fitting to leave the final words to another poet TS Elliot.
"Now dogs pretend they like to fight;
They often bark, more seldom bite;
But yet a Dog is, on the whole,
What you would call a simple soul."
Signed in the lower left.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 20” x 27” / 51cm x 69cm
Year of creation: c. 1875
Condition: A dark painting. Craquelure but the paint is stable. Old repairs. Recently varnished. Canvas relined.
James Coutts Michie trained under Joseph Farquharson and Carolus-Duran. He exhibited at the Royal Academy (21) and at the Royal Scottish Academy (98) where he became an Associate Member. He’s represented at the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Nottingham City Museums & Galleries, the Walker Art Gallery, Westminster College, Cambridge, and the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Learn more about James Coutts Michie ARSA in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
