- Artist
- Briton Riviere 1840–1920
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 451 × 375 mm
frame: 748 × 668 × 123 mm - Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by Sir Henry Tate 1897
- Reference
- N01566
Display caption
Riviere achieved immense popularity with the Victorian public for his anecdotal and often humourous pictures of animals. 'Sympathy', showing a little girl sent in disgrace to sit on the stairs while being conforted by her dog, was among the most popular of all. The first version was shown at the Royal Academy in 1878, but the picture exhibited here is a study Riviere made for a second version.
Always a supreme technician in his pictures, Riviere also painted historical subjects and portraits, but it was always his animal scenes to which the public most warmly responded.
Gallery label, August 2004
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- architecture(30,960)
-
- features(8,872)
-
- panelling(27)
- stair / step(514)
- emotions and human qualities(5,345)
-
- contemplation(141)
- furnishings(3,081)
-
- carpet(55)
- actions: postures and motions(9,111)
-
- sitting(3,347)
- girl(1,079)
- individuals: female(1,698)