1434) f Arnolfini and his wife we are fortunate enough to have a 

 very clear and lifelike portrait of their pet dog in the foreground. 

 The painter evidently went to some pains over the animal, which 

 in many respects is singularly like the present-day Griffon, the most 

 noticeable divergence being the longer face of Arnolhni's pet. He 

 ha% not the snub nose of our own dogs, but the photograph of 

 one of the older champions shows that this feature is of recent 

 development. 



To cite a further instance, between the years 1554 and 1640, 

 says Mr. Spicer, Jacopo du Empoli is credited with the production 

 of a picture of a dwarf, in the employ of Henry III. of France, 

 which portrays amongst a collection of this monarch's pets, two 

 unmistakeable griffons. After this evidence it will be unwise to 

 jump too readily to the conclusion that the Brussels Griffon is a 

 modern breed fashioned from British materials. We know perfectly 

 well that toy dogs have been in vogue through all ages, and these 

 not only of the spaniel kind. No great exercise of the imagination 

 is needed to see among them the Griffons Bruxellois or their 

 progenitors. 



Miss Earl in her picture has well caught the spirit of diablerie 

 manifest in these mannikins. Is it matter for surprise that lovers 

 of the eccentric should profess a devotion for them, that when, for 

 some reason or other, they fell out of favour with the great ladies 



