This study of a domestic pet is representative of subjects favoured by Dutch artists in the seventeenth century. Van Mieris’s intimate depiction of a small, weary dog makes use of two media – black and red chalk, as well as wash – to emulate the thick surface texture of the dog’s fur.


Van Mieris's 'Dog' was formerly in the collection of Dr Arthur Feldmann, a prominent Jewish lawyer from Brno in the Czech Republic. The collection was looted by the Gestapo in 1939, and he and his wife died at the hands of the Nazis. In 1946 this and two other drawings from Feldmann's collection were acquired by Sir Robert Witt, who later bequeathed his collection to The Courtauld. In 2007, all three drawings were returned to the heirs. As a sign of friendship, the family donated this work to The Courtauld.

Dr Alfred Ritter von Wurzbach-Tannenburg, Vienna (1845-1915), L.203 and L.2587, 1902; Dr Arthur Feldmann, Brno (1877-1941); his sale, Gilhofer & Ranschburg (Lucerne), 28 June 1934, lot 171; lot unsold and returned to Dr Feldmann; seized by the Gestapo, 15 March 1939; listed as 'Property of a Collector', Sotheby's (London), 16 October 1946, lot 55; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952; returned to heirs of Dr Feldmann, 3 May 2007; gift of the Heirs of the Estate of Dr Arthur Feldmann, 2007

This drawing was formerly in the collection of Dr Arthur Feldmann (1877-1941), a prominent Jewish lawyer from Brno in the Czech Republic. The collection was looted by the Gestapo in 1939, and Dr Feldmann and his wife subsequently died under Nazi persecution. In 1946, drawings from Feldmann’s collection appeared in an auction at Sotheby’s in London, identified only as ‘Property of a Collector’. This drawing and two others (attributed to Carl Ruthart, A Lion, to Giuseppe Bibiena, Architectural Capriccio) were acquired at the auction by Sir Robert Witt (1872-1952), and subsequently bequeathed to the Courtauld Institute of Art in 1952 (Sotheby’s, 16 October 1946, lots 55 a&b and 83). In 2006 the Courtauld received a claim from the Feldmann heirs for the restitution of these three drawings. Persuaded by the evidence linking these drawings to the collection, which is known to have been looted, the Courtauld joined the heirs in submitting the claim for restitution to the UK’s Spoliation Advisory Panel. In 2007 the Panel found that Dr Feldmann had been deprived of the drawings by an act of Nazi spoliation and recommended that all three drawings be returned to the family. A Charity Commission Order dated 3 May 2007 ratified this recommendation. As a 'symbol of friendship', Dr Feldmann’s heirs decided to donate this drawing to The Courtauld Gallery. To read the Report of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, see https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/231370/0200.pdf

Watermark: Recto: lower left, fragment: top of a foolscap.

Inscription: Recto: lower left corner, graphite: “M”. Verso: upper left corner, graphite: “6Lt”; upper right corner, graphite: “#6”; centre, graphite: “171”; lower left, graphite, underlined: “V9”; lower centre, black ink, includes the initials of Alfred von Wurzbach-Tannenburg (L.203): “co/f / aw 1902.” and in the same ink at lower left edge: “Fr. v. Mieris”; lower right, graphite: “287” and “231”; lower left, graphite: “Mieris / age. 67.”; lower centre, graphite: “3853” and “1635-1681”; lower right edge, graphite, mostly erased: “K. 3.[…]”.

Collector's mark: Verso: lower centre, pen and black ink as part of the inscription transcribed above: Dr Alfred Ritter von Wurzbach-Tannenburg, (L.203); lower left, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b); lower left corner, stamped in purple ink: Dr Alfred Ritter von Wurzbach-Tannenburg (L.2587).