A spaniel

Potter's 1653 depiction of a spaniel is a rare excursion from his preferred bovine and equine subjects into the world of companion animals. Spaniels occupied a particular cultural space in seventeenth-century Europe: associated with aristocratic leisure, hunting, and domestic affection, they appeared regularly in Flemish and Dutch genre paintings as markers of social refinement. Potter's decision to devote a panel to this subject may reflect the tastes of a specific collector — the work was held in the collection of Adriaan van der Hoop, whose holdings included a range of Dutch cabinet pictures. Hunting dogs also had genuine economic and social value; a well-bred spaniel was a prized possession. Potter approaches the dog with the same respectful attentiveness he directed at cattle, rendering the animal as an individual rather than a decorative accessory. The long, silky ears, the slightly anxious expression, and the carefully observed paws set on an earthen surface all bear the hallmarks of a painter who spent hours in front of his subjects. Within Potter's output, such single-animal portraits on panel served as demonstrations of technical virtuosity for knowledgeable buyers.

The silky coat of the spaniel is rendered through long, flowing brushstrokes that follow the natural direction of each area of fur — shorter around the muzzle, longer and more undulating on the ears and flanks. Potter uses warm whites and golden ochres for the lighter passages, deepening to rich umber in the shadows. The panel's smooth ground supports fine detailing in the nose and eye.