Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer for sale this very accomplished pastel portrait of a Black & Tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Black & Tan was the original colour of the breed. This is one of two pastels of Cavaliers that we are listing, the other being a Blenheim. They are both unsigned but by the same artist..

The breed has four recognized colours. Blenheim, Tri-colour, Black and Tan and Ruby. Cavaliers that have rich chestnut markings on a pearly white background are known as Blenheim in honor of Blenheim Palace, where John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, raised for assistance in hunting, the predecessors to the Cavalier breed in this particular colour. In some Blenheim dogs there is a chestnut spot in the middle of the forehead: this is called the "Blenheim" spot. The Blenheim spot is also known as the mark of the "Duchess Thumb Print", based on the legend that Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough while awaiting news of her husband's safe return from the Battle of Blenheim, pressed the head of an expecting dam with her thumb, resulting in five puppies bearing the lucky mark after news that the battle had been won.
Black and Tan are dogs with black bodies with tan highlights, particularly eyebrows, cheeks, legs and beneath the tail. Black and Tan is referred to as "King Charles" in the King Charles Spaniel. They were reputedly kept by King Charles II.

The pastel has been newly mounted in two tone acid-free mountboard to complement and is framed in a 1 1/4 inch gilt frame. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 9 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches - 23.5cm x 18.4cm

Frame size: 16 5/8 x 14 1/4 inches - 42.25cm x 36.2cm

Medium: Pastels on paper

Condition: Excellent. The mounts amd frame are new.