Painting of the Day: The Reverend Townshend's Dog

The Reverend Townshend's Dog
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Over the past three years, we have had a nice long look at the Reverend Chauncey Hare Townshend's magnificent collection of jewels which is on display in the V&A. Now, let's look at his beloved dog. Here, we see the Reverend's dog, A black King Charles spaniel as he chases a dragonfly in a plush interior which also shows, at right a pedestal table with a bowl laden with flowers before a window, and curtains on the left.


This is the work of François Bocion (1828-1890) who was born in Lausanne. He trained with Christian Gottlieb Steinlen (1779-1847) in Vevey and subsequently with François Bonnet (1811-1894) in Lausanne. Later, he became a teacher at the Ecole moyenne et industrielle of Lausanne, a position he held until his death.

The Revered Townshend's dog, called Bully, is mentioned and described in the correspondence of Charles Dickens who knew Townshend since the 1840s. I'm glad he is still remembered today.