Welsh Springer Spaniel: From 1864 Pre Raphaelite Painting to UK Kennel Club Recognition in 1902

‘The Children’s Holiday’ by William Holman Hunt

1864 welsh springer spaniel painting

In 1864, Thomas Fairburn commissioned William Holman Hunt to paint the portrait of his wife and family.

‘The Children’s Holiday’ is a formal picnic setting of Lady Fairburn surrounded by her five children and dog on their estate. To the right of Alison Fairburn is the young Thomas patting his treasured dog – clearly a ‘Welshie’

The paining is fascinating as it portrays the breed 38 years prior to Welsh Springer Spaniels being officially recognised by the UK Kennel Club.   The art work is owned by Torre Abby Museum, Torquay.

PRE RAPHAELITES  Victorian Avant-Garde.  William Holdman Hunt  was a founding member the Pre Raphaelite movement founded in 1848.  It was a brotherhood of English painters, poets and critics whose intention was to reform a mechanistic approach to art and return to the abundant detail, intense colour and complex compositions of Italian art.