A Rough Dog

A Rough Dog from 1790 by George Stubbs is a canine portrait from his later career depicting a shaggy-coated working or sporting dog of uncertain breed. The generic title suggests the dog was valued more for its character and working ability than for pedigree or breed identity. Stubbs painted numerous breeds throughout his career, applying the same anatomical understanding to each—terriers, spaniels, pointers, greyhounds—but this rough-coated subject gave him an opportunity to render a different coat texture from the smooth-haired breeds that appeared more frequently in his work. His oil technique, built in careful layers, could capture the visual weight of a rough coat as convincingly as the gleaming coat of a thoroughbred. The work is held at the Royal Collection.

The dog's rough coat and muscular build are rendered with careful observation, demonstrating Stubbs's skill in depicting varied animal textures.