Spanish school (XIX) - Ritratto antropomorfo
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Selected by Giulia Santoro
Specialised in 17th century Old Master paintings and drawings with auction house experience.
Estimate € 1,600 - € 2,000
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Anthropomorphic portrait from the 19th century, oil on canvas, Spain, Spanish School (19th century), dated 1880, 50 by 65 cm, unsigned, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Second half of the 19th Century Spanish School
“Anthropomorphic Portrait”
Oil on canvas / period 1850/900
Presentation of the painting
This curious painting, datable to the end of the 19th century, belongs to the tradition of anthropomorphic portraits, a genre that enjoyed a fair amount of success between the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in bourgeois and decorative circles. The work depicts a dog – probably a German Shepherd – with an animal head and a human body, portrayed in a half-figure bust according to the standards of the official portrait.
The animal wears an 19th-century military uniform, adorned with decorations and honors, including a cross on the chest, symbolizing valor and loyalty. The pose is solemn and composed: the (humanized) hands rest calmly on a surface, recalling iconographic models typical of aristocratic and military portraiture of the 19th century. The neutral and warm background helps focus attention on the figure, accentuating its almost “human” dignity.
Stylistically, the work presents a traditional painting technique, with a palette dominated by browns, dark greens and ochres, today further softened by the patina of time and the craquelure of the painted surface. The rendering of the dog’s snout is surprisingly attentive and naturalistic, in contrast with the deliberately artificial construction of the human body, creating a subtle balance between realism and irony.
On a symbolic level, the painting can be read as a gentle satire or as an allegory of the virtues attributed to the dog – loyalty, obedience, discipline – translated into the language of power and military authority. An entirely decorative or celebratory function cannot be ruled out either, perhaps linked to a private setting, such as a study or bourgeois drawing room, where works of this kind aroused curiosity and refined amusement.
Overall, the painting represents an interesting document of late 19th-century taste, capable of merging academic tradition, visual humor and moral symbolism, offering contemporaries a reading that is at once fascinating and ironically ambiguous.
This series of anthropomorphic portraits is the work of a Spanish painter active between 1830 and 1900; the work is unsigned. The painting is presented on a priming canvas with signs of aging
Canvas: 65 x 50 cm
From a private collection
Condition: Good, with normal signs of aging - see photos
* the frame shown in the photo was used for display purposes only / the frame is not part of the sale
Ideal for collecting and investment
With a legally compliant certificate of authenticity - Expertise
Professional packaging and insured shipping
Seller's Story
Magnolia Arte is a company that deals with the buying and selling of artworks. Each piece is carefully selected for its artistic quality and emotional impact. In fact, Magnolia Arte believes that every work of art is a piece of cultural history, useful for understanding our present. The economic value and investment are considered secondary aspects compared to artistic and historical-cultural value. Magnolia Arte is a reference point for the auction sale of ancient, modern, and contemporary art. Magnolia is a place of art. Art enthusiasts will find professionalism and expertise here.
Translated by Google TranslateSecond half of the 19th Century Spanish School
“Anthropomorphic Portrait”
Oil on canvas / period 1850/900
Presentation of the painting
This curious painting, datable to the end of the 19th century, belongs to the tradition of anthropomorphic portraits, a genre that enjoyed a fair amount of success between the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in bourgeois and decorative circles. The work depicts a dog – probably a German Shepherd – with an animal head and a human body, portrayed in a half-figure bust according to the standards of the official portrait.
The animal wears an 19th-century military uniform, adorned with decorations and honors, including a cross on the chest, symbolizing valor and loyalty. The pose is solemn and composed: the (humanized) hands rest calmly on a surface, recalling iconographic models typical of aristocratic and military portraiture of the 19th century. The neutral and warm background helps focus attention on the figure, accentuating its almost “human” dignity.
Stylistically, the work presents a traditional painting technique, with a palette dominated by browns, dark greens and ochres, today further softened by the patina of time and the craquelure of the painted surface. The rendering of the dog’s snout is surprisingly attentive and naturalistic, in contrast with the deliberately artificial construction of the human body, creating a subtle balance between realism and irony.
On a symbolic level, the painting can be read as a gentle satire or as an allegory of the virtues attributed to the dog – loyalty, obedience, discipline – translated into the language of power and military authority. An entirely decorative or celebratory function cannot be ruled out either, perhaps linked to a private setting, such as a study or bourgeois drawing room, where works of this kind aroused curiosity and refined amusement.
Overall, the painting represents an interesting document of late 19th-century taste, capable of merging academic tradition, visual humor and moral symbolism, offering contemporaries a reading that is at once fascinating and ironically ambiguous.
This series of anthropomorphic portraits is the work of a Spanish painter active between 1830 and 1900; the work is unsigned. The painting is presented on a priming canvas with signs of aging
Canvas: 65 x 50 cm
From a private collection
Condition: Good, with normal signs of aging - see photos
* the frame shown in the photo was used for display purposes only / the frame is not part of the sale
Ideal for collecting and investment
With a legally compliant certificate of authenticity - Expertise
Professional packaging and insured shipping
Seller's Story
Magnolia Arte is a company that deals with the buying and selling of artworks. Each piece is carefully selected for its artistic quality and emotional impact. In fact, Magnolia Arte believes that every work of art is a piece of cultural history, useful for understanding our present. The economic value and investment are considered secondary aspects compared to artistic and historical-cultural value. Magnolia Arte is a reference point for the auction sale of ancient, modern, and contemporary art. Magnolia is a place of art. Art enthusiasts will find professionalism and expertise here.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Artist
Spanish school (XIX)
Sold with frame
No
Title of artwork
Ritratto antropomorfo
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Not signed
Country of origin
Spain
Year
1880
Condition
Good condition
Height
65 cm
Width
50 cm
Period
19th century
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