Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1700s.
The dog, although probably the boy's pet also symbolises fidelity, trust and loyalty.
JOSEPH HIGHMORE (1692 - 1780) was born in London, on June 13th 1692. He was the third son of Edward and Mary (Tull) Highmore. His father was a coal merchant in Thames Street. He was articled as clerk to an attorney in 1707, but his ambition was always to paint, and he studied for two years at the academy founded by Sir Godfrey Kneller in Great Queen Street.
Beginning as a professional portrait painter in 1715, he gained clients from the City merchants who approved of what they perceived to be his ability to convey likeness and character without ostentation. He married in 1716, and a move in 1723 to a house in Lincoln's Inn Field marked his growing business and prosperity.
Highmore's contribution to a folio of engravings relating to the Order of the Bath and its ceremonies obtained him a number of commissions from the Knights of the Order.
His series of paintings in illustration of Samuel Richardson's novel "Pamela" and small, full-length, single and group portraits of the same period and style, were his principal achievement of the 1740s. As a result of the paintings, Highmore became a close friend of Richardson, and not only painted illustrations for Richardson's other novels, but also portrayed the novelist himself.
Highmore retired as a painter in 1761 and left London to live with his family at Canterbury in 1762. He died at Canterbury, on March 3rd, 1780.
SIZE: 36.25 x 31 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: English Private Collection
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1700s.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Sold....portrait of a Boy and His Dog C.1720; Attributed to Joseph Highmore
