Jules Léonard Schmitz

This canvas is unlined. This picture is in excellent condition. UV light reveals only a couple tiny retouches which are mostly in the background. A small line of retouching along the left edge may have been caused by abrasion from a prior frame. The dog itself has almost no restoration whatsoever, only a couple very small marks. Overall in very good condition and may be hung as is. In a carved giltwood frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

By the time Schmitz painted this charming canine portrait, King Charles Spaniels were familiar in art as the pampered playthings of the upper classes and royalty, not only depicted in images along side their masters but also represented in their own individualized "portraits."  In placing this dog outside in a landscape -- as opposed to indoors surrounded by plush cushions and gilt furniture -- Schmitz has drawn on the example of the English painter, George Stubbs, whose King Charles Spaniel of 1776 (Private Collection, United Kingdom) shows the dog in an unorthodox, menacing, dark forest.  Although very little is known about Schmitz, he is recorded by Benezit as a painter of hunting scenes and horses who exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon between 1824 and 1850.