William Davey after J. Bateman.

The Lost Beauty.

21 x 18

An unashamedly sentimental study of a King Charles Spaniel in a domestic setting. What at first appears to be simply a study of a favourite pet gains poignancy when you look closer and see that the dog has been tethered to a large weight and has been effectively held captive without food and water in what looks like a rustic attic. The bowl is empty, the bones have been gnawed and the bed is a broken old chair. How has such a handsome, pedigree dog found itself in such humble surroundings and how will he be reunited with his owner? Kidnapping, ransom notes and skulduggery all come to mind and feed into this very Victorian melodrama.