British school (XIX) - Porträt eines englischen Terriers mit Halsband

Portrait of an English Terrier with Collar – Fine Oil Painting on Cardboard with Linen Texture by H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf (c. 1880–1920)

IMPORTANT: Please also note my other listings, as there is a second, different painting (pendant) of this terrier in my auctions. If you win both paintings of this dog, you will pay the postage only once. You can find the second painting, which you can purchase in the other auction, at the end of the image gallery (photo 22).

The present object is an original oil painting on tinted cardboard with a linen-textured card, which can be classified as a expressive animal portrait from the turn of the century up to the early 20th century (c. 1880–1920).
Carrier history: The back of the painting supports bears the original factory seal of the renowned Düsseldorfer color and painting materials manufacturer H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf. The embossing or stamp with the assortment designation “MF8” and the size specification “00 / 16 x 12 cm” attest to the use of a professional, academically trained study-and-paint carrier of high quality made in Germany from this era.
Catalogue number / Format reference: Format 00 (16 × 12 cm). This specific sizing places the support material classically in the segment of miniature and study formats, highly valued for plein-air studies and fine animal portraits in the period before and around 1900 to the 1920s.
Physical condition: The image dimensions are approximately 16 × 12 cm excluding the frame and about 18.2 × 14 cm including the frame. Please note that these are approximate figures, which are also documented in detail in the photos of the image gallery. The support consists of pressed, rigid cardboard with a back coating and labeling.
Analysis of the artistic rendering (The dog portrait)
This work is characterized by a precise and distinctive capture of the animal:
Canine assignment: The painting shows the head of a short-haired dog in profile facing to the right. The phenotypic features – elongated skull, attentive eye, slightly open mouth with visible tongue and teeth, and the characteristic fur pattern (brown-white well-groomed) – strongly indicate an English Terrier (such as a Fox Terrier / Smooth Fox Terrier or a related strain of British terrier breeds).
Detail execution: The artist succeeded in capturing the dog’s gaze as lively as possible. The dark leather collar with metal studs lends a fine, domestic-polished refinement to the scene and forms a coherent color contrast to the red-brown-white fur.
Background and delicacy: The background is rendered in a neutral cool gray-blue, dynamically enlivened by fine, loose brushstrokes and gives the subject a plastic prominence.
Iconography and back-side design
The back of the painting support serves as an important secondary source for classification:
Factory stamp: The stamp imprint “Schmincke Düsseldorf” with the company emblem is clearly legible and certifies the historical quality painting ground from the late Imperial era or the early 1920s.
Back side condition: The back paper shows a uniform, aging patina without significant moisture damage, indicating proper and dry storage for over a century.
Art-historical context: Animal and breed dog painting around the turn of the century
The subject of academic and semi-professional animal painting enjoyed enormous popularity around 1900 and into the 1910s and 1920s – driven by the rising pure-breeding of terrier breeds:
Stylistic mix: The work combines a realistic, kynologically precise understanding of anatomy with a noticeably impressionistic, brisk brushwork in the area of fur texture and background, which is typical for plein-air and study painting of the period 1880–1920.
Importance of the painting carrier: Schmincke carriers were preferred by academically trained artists and accomplished portraitists, as they guaranteed distortion-free and durable painting culture.
Material condition and collector’s evaluation (grading)
The preservation of the paint layer is exceptionally good for a work over 100 years old:
Paint layer: The oil paint is stable, shows strong, fresh pigments, and exhibits no notable cracking, flaking, or overpaintings. The surface texture of the linen-embossed cardboard is aesthetically apparent through the paint layer.
Framing and integrity: The included, profiled wooden frame with a silver-gold finish is structurally damaged. The corner joints are unstable and loose; the geometric integrity is no longer guaranteed.
Provenance: Unmarked but expertly executed piece from a private collection (lot-origin 2026).
Market value analysis and outlook 2026
The work stands out positively due to its dating (c. 1900–1920), the renowned Schmincke ground, and its expressive execution.
Criterion | Rating | Influence on value
Artistic rank | Expert, distinctive animal study circa 1900–1920 | High
Physical condition (image) | Very well preserved, stable paint layer | Maximum
Frame condition | Damaged / unstable | Neutral to negative impact
Market trend 2026 | Steady demand for antique early 20th-century dog portraits | Positive
Market assessment: The estimated market value of the object is 600 € to 800 €. The frame is explicitly declared as a complimentary inclusion/protection during transport.
Archive summary
This object is a fine example of intimate animal portraiture of the period circa 1880–1920 on high-quality Schmincke Düsseldorf materials. It captivates with its vibrant aura and offers a beautiful collectible for lovers of classical antique dog motifs.
Title
Portrait of an English Terrier – Original oil painting on Schmincke cardboard, ca. 1880–1920
Object
Oil painting on structured cardboard (Schmincke Düsseldorf, MF8).
Dimensions excluding frame: approx. 16 × 12 cm (approximate; see photos in the image gallery).
Dimensions including frame: approx. 18.2 × 40 cm (approximate; see photos in the image gallery).
Carrier manufacturer: H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf.
Depiction
The painting shows a fine bust portrait of an English Terrier in profile. The dog looks attentively to the right, with a slightly open mouth. It wears a dark leather collar with studs. The fur is rendered in vivid brown and white tones, the background in a subtle, dotted gray-blue.
Technique and execution
Oil on linen-textured cardboard.
Carrier: Factory-made cardboard support by Schmincke Düsseldorf.
Framing: Wooden frame with decorative profile (damaged).
Dating and context
The work can be dated to roughly 1880 to 1920 using the Schmincke ground and stylistic features.
Stylistic classification
Representational animal painting of the late Imperial era / early modern period with an impressionistic brushwork and precise anatomical depiction.
Framing and packaging
The frame is damaged and the corners are loose. It serves for shipping only as protection for the painting and as a possible base for restoration, with no warranty of success for such repair.
Condition
Artwork/paint layer: Very well preserved.
Frame: Damaged / loose.
Cultural-historical significance and interpretation
Characteristic example of private animal painting and kynology of the late Imperial era and the 1920s on professional painting material.
Conclusion
A moodful and aesthetically appealing animal portrait on historic Schmincke ground from ca. 1880–1920.
Artist: Unidentified / monogram indecipherable
Title: Portrait of an English Terrier
Technique: Oil on cardboard (Schmincke MF8)
Dimensions: approx. 16 × 12 cm (excluding frame) / approx. 18.2 × 40 cm (including frame) – approximate figures, see photos in the image gallery
Condition image: Very good
Condition frame: Damaged
Market status and demand
Small-format antique animal portraits from around 1880–1920, especially classic dog breeds, enjoy steady demand in the art and antique market.
Estimates (as of 2026)
Condition | Estimated market value
Estimated value | 600 € to 800 €
Conclusion for use
A sale via specialized art and antique platforms or auctions focusing on turn-of-the-century animal art is recommended.
Please note regarding measuring the dimensions that you should primarily refer to the photos (I often photographed the measurements with a measuring tape). Measurements can be imprecise due to digital processing and sometimes incorrectly described – please inquire again before purchase if exact measurements to the millimeter or centimeter are crucial for you.
Please note that all information on the dating of this work is given to the best of our knowledge, but no warranty or claim to correctness and precision can be given. Absolute certainty would require a material analysis. Bid only if you have sufficient expertise to determine a correct dating based on the provided photos. The seller and the Catawiki experts assume no liability for incorrect dating. Therefore, rely solely on the photos as the decisive descriptive features.

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