Portrait of a girl with Bolonok

The artist is unknown

The inscription has been preserved on the back: "791 Genve. 20 7 years and 5. G.", which allows you to date the work. The girl’s dress and hairstyle correspond to this time. Dogs of different breeds and sizes are present on children’s portraits very often. In painting, four -legged pets became an allegorical embodiment of devotion and friendly affection. Bologna in the hands of a girl belongs to an extremely rare and valuable breed of “poultry” (the so -called Lyon or Lion Dog). Starting from the 16th century, this kind of Bolonok has gained popularity in the ruling houses of Europe and until the 19th century was considered a very valuable “royal” breed. Apparently, the image depicted belongs to a noble aristocratic family.

N. X. Unknown artist. SPb, 2012. With. 113.