DIGNITY AND IMPUDENCE. ,9 



To the exhibition at the British Institution in 1839 Landseer contributed a picture 

 then, simply called " Two Dogs," but which has long since become well-known by. the 

 appropriate title of " Dignity and Impudence." It shows in a striking manner the power 

 of contrast, though we see little more than the heads of the animals peering out of the 

 front of the kennel. One is that of a splendid old bloodhound of the Duke of Grafton's 

 breed, which has flung its paw, massive and strong, across the ledge of the doorway 

 It is impossible to imagine anything finer than the perfect repose and dignity of the 

 magnificent creature, which does not condescend to notice a small white Scotch terrier 

 that has had the audacity to venture into the abode of his gigantic companion, and, 

 placing himself by his side, peers out of the opening with brilliant restless eyes, as if 

 on the watch to spring upon anything that comes within reach. In ordinary hands 

 the subject would have been commonplace and comparatively insignificant ; but the 

 genius of the artist has elevated it into a work of great interest. The picture was 

 painted for the late Mr. Jacob Bell, who bequeathed it to the nation ; and it is now 

 in Trafalgar Square. An exquisite little cabinet-picture, "A Milkmaid and Cow," 

 also hung in the British Institution at the same time. 



In the Academy exhibition of that year Landseer showed seven works, among 

 which were the following : — " The Princess Mary of Cambridge, and a favourite 

 Newfoundland Dog, the property of Prince George of Cambridge." The princess, 

 then a child, is '' giving lessons" to the huge animal: the picture is finely and 

 carefully painted. "Tethered Rams," now in the Sheepshanks Collection: two 

 rams, guarded by two sheep-dogs, are fastened to the trunk of a tree which lies 

 on the ground ; in the middle distance is a flock of sheep under the care of the 

 shepherd, who is talking to a girl: the background landscape shows a lake and 

 mountains. " Corsican, Russian, and Fallow Deer," admirably grouped, and herding 

 together quite in harmony, though it may be questioned whether animals whose 

 habits are so opposite ever meet on such amicable terms. "Portrait of Miss Eliza 

 Peel with Fido," a gem of a picture, yet nothing more than a pretty child 

 fondling her pet-dog. "Van Amburgh and his Animals," a commission from the 

 Queen. Landseer repeated this subject on a much larger scale, in 1847, for the late 

 Duke of Wellington ; the picture is now at Apsley House. The two compositions 

 are somewhat dissimilar; in the first, a lion is the prominent animal, "while the 

 great brute-tamer exhibits the bloody wounds upon his neck and arms with evident 

 pride and satisfaction as so many honourable scars: numerous figures are looking 

 through the iron-grating with wonder and delight." The second version was 

 entitled " Portrait of Mr. Van Amburgh, as he appeared with his Animals at the 

 London Theatres." Here, as in the other, Van Amburgh is seen in the cage, a 

 lion, lioness, &c., being on his left hand, and on his right a tiger and other 

 animals: he holds in his hand a whip. The lion has raised himself against 



