The Faithful Hound by Landseer: Loyalty Beyond Death

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A hound howls over its fallen master

After a battle, a knight in armour lies dead beside his fallen white horse. His hound sits beside him and lifts its head to howl at the darkening sky. Edwin Landseer painted The Faithful Hound as an image of loyalty beyond death.

The painting shown here belongs to the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

A howl at the sky

The hound sitting upright, howling at the sky — The howl.

The hound sits upright, head thrown back, mouth open. It is the only living thing in the scene, and its grief fills the picture.

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The Faithful Hound hand-painted oil reproduction

The Faithful Hound, painted by hand

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Knight and horse fallen together

The dead knight in armour on a red cloak — The fallen knight.

The knight lies on his back in armour, a red cloak beneath him.

The white horse lying in its harness — The white horse.

His white horse lies beside him, still in its harness. Landseer painted fur, metal and leather with great skill.

Questions about The Faithful Hound

Who painted it?

Edwin Landseer.

Where is it?

The version shown is in the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

What is the theme?

A dog’s loyalty to its master beyond death.

Was Landseer known for dogs?

Yes. He was the most famous animal painter of Victorian Britain.

Sources and image credit

Wikimedia Commons: The Faithful Hound, Royal Academy of Arts

Public-domain reproduction of The Faithful Hound, via Wikimedia Commons. Detail images are crops of the same image; no reconstruction or upscaling.