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Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) "Duke" - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel (artist's estate wax seal attached to the panel inscribed 'Succession Verboeckhoven, 1881') image 1
Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) "Duke" - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel (artist's estate wax seal attached to the panel inscribed 'Succession Verboeckhoven, 1881') image 2
Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) "Duke" - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel (artist's estate wax seal attached to the panel inscribed 'Succession Verboeckhoven, 1881') image 3
Lot 38*

Eugène Verboeckhoven
(Belgian, 1798-1881)
"Duke" - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel

23 July 2025, 14:00 BST
Edinburgh

£15,000 - £20,000

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Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881)

"Duke" - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel
signed and dated 'Eugène Verboeckhoven/1850' (centre right) and inscribed 'DUKE' (to the stone pillar upper right)
oil on panel
74.5 x 95.5cm (29 5/16 x 37 5/8in).
artist's estate wax seal attached to the panel inscribed 'Succession Verboeckhoven, 1881'

Footnotes

Five years prior to the present work, in 1845, Verboeckhoven was commissioned by King Leopold I of Belgium to produce a group portrait of the king's favourite pets. Amongst others, the work included a Newfoundland, Whippet, and two Spaniels - one looking to be a Blenheim type and the other a King Charles. A multi-coloured stitched ball is also included in the scene, the same as the one we can see in the present work.

Given the size and quality of the present painting, this was clearly a high level commission for someone of both means and rank. And although we can't be certain, one does wonder if it may be another of the king's pets, although sadly no reference to their pet's names can be found. We know that the king kept this breed; the inclusion of the same ball as the 1845 royal commission is compelling; and the name "Duke" might also be appropriate from someone who himself possessed the title.

The blue ribbon on the key in the foreground perhaps indicates that this was either a favourite pet or a top breeding dog - the blue ribbon traditionally being associated with things of the highest order.

The fact that the work possesses Verboeckhoven's estate wax seal dated 1881 suggests that it never made its way to whomever commissioned it and was still in the artist's possession at the time of his death in the same year.

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