Dog Portrait of "Tom" a Terrier, 
Louis Léger Chardin (1833-1918) 
Circa 1880
Oil on panel
9 x 7 (13 x 11 frame) inches
 
Having located several paintings of Tom and his Terrier-looking pal done by at least three different artists, one must conclude that Tom and his buddy were quite the popular models in the canine universe in France at around 1880. Aside from Louis Léger Chardin (1833-1918), Tom & Co. were painted by Théodore Levigne (1848-1912) in addition to Jules Chardigny (1842-1892). Not only were these two blokes popular canine models, but they were painted as duplicates as well. Why they would be painted by several painters but then to be repainted again by the same artists is such a mystery. All the paintings appear to have been executed as oil on panel in rather diminutive sizes such as the present examples. One example created by Jules Chardigny was published in the book by "Dog Painting: The European Dog, by William Secord.
 
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