Fino and Tiny

Fino and Tiny from 1791 by George Stubbs is a late double animal portrait depicting two named animals—likely two valued dogs—in the commemorative portrait format he applied with equal seriousness to horses and dogs throughout his career. Named portraits of companion animals were a relatively recent development in English art, reflecting the growing emotional investment of aristocratic households in individual animals as subjects of affection as well as utility. Stubbs approached each animal with individual characterization—noting the specific physical type, the particular posture and bearing, the character suggested by features and expression—rather than producing generalized dog portraits. The work is held at the Royal Collection and demonstrates the sustained patronage Stubbs enjoyed from the royal household in his final decade.

The two animals are individually characterized with Stubbs's precise observational technique, each depicted with careful attention to breed characteristics and personality.