Bidspirit auction | Dogs with a mouse. Unidentifiable

Dogs with a mouse. Unidentifiable English signature. Possibly English School. 19th century. - Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 66 x 45 cm. Two dogs of different breeds, one white and one black, star in an action scene inside a hayloft, alert to the presence of a mouse peeking out of a fallen barrel. The diagonal arrangement and the tension of the postures lend dynamism to the scene, while the surroundings of straw, warm light, and rural utensils accentuate the costumbrista character. The fluid brushwork and treatment of the fur demonstrate remarkable technical mastery, as well as an acute observation of animal behavior. The work bears the signature of George Armfield, a British painter famous for his scenes with dogs, which places it within the Victorian tradition of animal painting. This composition conveys vivacity, humor, and a popular narrative highly valued in 19th-century England.