Spanish school (XIX) - Ritratto antropomorfo
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€ 15
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Selected by Giulia Santoro
Specialised in 17th century Old Master paintings and drawings with auction house experience.
Estimate € 1,300 - € 1,600
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Ritratto antropomorfo is an unsigned 1880 oil on canvas portrait by a Spanish School artist of the 19th century, measuring 50 × 65 cm.
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 school of anthropomorphic portraits, a genre that enjoyed a decent degree of popularity 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-length bust according to the conventions of the official portrait.
The animal wears an 19th-century military uniform, enhanced by decorations and honors, including a cross on the chest, a symbol of courage and fidelity. The pose is solemn and composed: the (humanized) hands rest calmly on a surface, recalling iconographic models typical of the aristocratic and military portraiture of the 19th century. The neutral, warm background helps to focus attention on the figure, heightening its almost “human” dignity.
Stylistically, the work features 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 painting surface. The rendering of the dog’s snout is surprisingly accurate and naturalistic, in contrast with the deliberately artificial construction of the human body, creating a subtle balance between realism and irony.
Symbolically, 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. A purely decorative or celebratory function is also not excluded, perhaps linked to a private context, such as a study or bourgeois drawing-room, where works of this kind sparked curiosity and cultivated humor.
Overall, the painting represents an interesting document of late 19th-century taste, capable of fusing academic tradition, visual humor, and moral symbolism, offering contemporary viewers a reading that is at once fascinating and ironically ambiguous.
This series of anthropomorphic portraits are by a Spanish painter active between 1830 and 1900; the work is unsigned. The painting is presented on a primed canvas with signs of age.
Canvas: 65 x 50 cm
Coming from a private collection
Condition: Good, with normal signs of time – see photos
* the frame shown in the photo was used for display purposes only / the frame is not part of the sale
Ideal for collectors and investment
With a legally compliant certificate of authenticity – Expertise
Professional packing 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 school of anthropomorphic portraits, a genre that enjoyed a decent degree of popularity 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-length bust according to the conventions of the official portrait.
The animal wears an 19th-century military uniform, enhanced by decorations and honors, including a cross on the chest, a symbol of courage and fidelity. The pose is solemn and composed: the (humanized) hands rest calmly on a surface, recalling iconographic models typical of the aristocratic and military portraiture of the 19th century. The neutral, warm background helps to focus attention on the figure, heightening its almost “human” dignity.
Stylistically, the work features 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 painting surface. The rendering of the dog’s snout is surprisingly accurate and naturalistic, in contrast with the deliberately artificial construction of the human body, creating a subtle balance between realism and irony.
Symbolically, 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. A purely decorative or celebratory function is also not excluded, perhaps linked to a private context, such as a study or bourgeois drawing-room, where works of this kind sparked curiosity and cultivated humor.
Overall, the painting represents an interesting document of late 19th-century taste, capable of fusing academic tradition, visual humor, and moral symbolism, offering contemporary viewers a reading that is at once fascinating and ironically ambiguous.
This series of anthropomorphic portraits are by a Spanish painter active between 1830 and 1900; the work is unsigned. The painting is presented on a primed canvas with signs of age.
Canvas: 65 x 50 cm
Coming from a private collection
Condition: Good, with normal signs of time – see photos
* the frame shown in the photo was used for display purposes only / the frame is not part of the sale
Ideal for collectors and investment
With a legally compliant certificate of authenticity – Expertise
Professional packing 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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