Painting of the Day: “Hector, Nero and Dash with the Parrot, Lory,” 1838

Hector, Nero and Dash with the Parrot, Lory
Sir Edwin Landseer, 1838
Commissioned by Queen Victoria
The Royal Collection

As it has been well-documented, we know that Queen Victoria’s fierce devotion to her family extended to the Royal pets. Victoria commissioned many a portrait of the animals—both domestic and otherwise—at the Royal residences. And, of course, who better to commission for such a task than Sir Edwin Landseer?


In 1838, Queen Victoria commissioned this portrait of her beloved spaniel, Dash, with Hector and Nero—two of the other family dogs. Joining them is “The Lory,” the grand macaw who was a gift from Victoria’s uncle and a surprisingly cooperative subject.