{"product_id":"stubbs-george-1724-1806-water-spaniel-dog-1804","title":"Stubbs, George (1724-1806) - Water spaniel dog 1804","description":"\u003cp\u003ePainted in 1804, just two years before his death, \u003cem\u003eWater Spaniel\u003c\/em\u003e is one of George Stubbs's most tender and intimate works — a portrait of a dog rendered with the same anatomical precision and quiet reverence he brought to his celebrated horses. By the early 19th century, Stubbs had spent decades studying the natural world with a scientist's rigour and a poet's eye, and it shows: the spaniel's curling coat, alert expression, and easy confidence are captured with a warmth that transcends mere animal painting. This is a portrait of a companion, a working dog, and a creature of genuine character — and it has never looked better than it does now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRestoration \u0026amp; Remastering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike many late 18th and early 19th-century oils, the original had accumulated the familiar toll of time: yellowed varnish, compressed tones, and colours dulled far from what Stubbs painted in 1804. Our work was guided by a single question: \u003cem\u003ewhat did this painting look like when Stubbs first stepped back from the easel?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarnish yellowing removed\u003c\/strong\u003e — the amber cast was lifted, recovering the cooler tones of the background, cleaner highlights in the coat, and more natural colouration throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoat detail recovered\u003c\/strong\u003e — the spaniel's characteristic curling, wavy fur was restored with directional texture, sheen, and the subtle colour variation between wet and dry sections of the coat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShadow detail reopened\u003c\/strong\u003e — information lost in the darker areas of the fur and background was recovered, giving the dog genuine three-dimensional form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFacial expression clarified\u003c\/strong\u003e — the eyes, muzzle, and facial modelling were sharpened so the spaniel's alert, intelligent character reads clearly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackground depth restored\u003c\/strong\u003e — the landscape setting was separated from the figure, recovering atmospheric distance and making the dog read as a solid, present form against its environment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour saturation recovered\u003c\/strong\u003e — the warm liver and white tones of the coat were brought back to their original richness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLighting modelled\u003c\/strong\u003e — stronger highlights along the back and shoulders, deeper shadows beneath, and better overall form modelling make the dog feel genuinely alive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDynamic range increased\u003c\/strong\u003e — richer blacks, brighter highlights, and stronger colour separation, while fully respecting the character of the original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is faithful to Stubbs's composition and intent, but optimized for modern display, large-format printing, and contemporary viewing. It still feels unmistakably like George Stubbs — but with over 200 years of dust, fading, and yellowed varnish stripped away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for dog lovers, sporting art collectors, country house libraries, and anyone who appreciates the quiet mastery of one of Britain's greatest animal painters at the very end of his remarkable career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eElliott Best Remastered prints are produced on premium archival museum stock for the finest colour fidelity and longevity.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Elliott Best","offers":[{"title":"Collector 11\" x 14\" \/ 28cm x 36cm","offer_id":47279037907115,"sku":null,"price":79.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallery 18\" x 24\" \/ 46cm x 61cm","offer_id":47279040823467,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Statement 24\" x 36\" \/ 61cm x 90cm","offer_id":47279040856235,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/7621\/8539\/files\/ChatGPTImageJun24_2026_03_19_17PM.png?v=1782332052","url":"https:\/\/elliottbest.com\/products\/stubbs-george-1724-1806-water-spaniel-dog-1804","provider":"Elliott Best","version":"1.0","type":"link"}