Georges Armfield

GEORGES ARMFIELD (England, 1808 - 1893).
"Dogs."
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 20 x 26 cm; 34 x 39 cm (frame).
During the nineteenth century, English society developed a deep fascination with domestic animals, especially hunting and companion dogs, which drove a great demand for animalistic portraits. Among the artists who excelled in this genre was George Armfield, considered one of the most notable animal painters of Victorian England.
Born in 1808 and initially known as George Armfield Smith, he received his early artistic training from his father, portrait painter William Armfield Hobday. Although in his youth he was destined to learn a trade related to the manufacture of fishing tackle, he soon abandoned that occupation to devote himself fully to painting. His talent was recognized very early on and he managed to develop a stable career, something unusual among young artists of the time.
He exhibited regularly at such important institutions as the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists, presenting more than one hundred works throughout his career. Among his best known titles are Fox Prowling, The Reaper's Dogs and Waiting for a Bite. His paintings enjoyed enormous popularity both for their technical quality and for the genuine affection he conveyed for animals.