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George ArmfieldWaiting for Master
$4,451.86
£3,250
€3,829.92
CA$6,117.11
A$6,846.19
CHF 3,573.19
MX$83,488.24
NOK 45,731.91
SEK 43,291.11
DKK 28,582.19
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About the Item
George Armfield (fl.1840-1875)
Waiting for Master
Signed and dated 'G. Armfield 1854'
Oil on canvas
Canvas Size - 9 x 12 in
Framed Size - 15 1/2 x 18 in
Provenance
with Richard Green Galleries, London; where purchased by the present owner.
George Armfield (1808–1893) was a British painter best known for his lively and endearing portrayals of dogs. Particularly drawn to terriers and sporting breeds, Armfield became one of the most prolific and popular canine artists of the 19th century. His work captured not only the physical likeness of animals but also their personality and spirit, making his paintings enduring favorites among collectors.
Armfield was born in 1808—possibly in Wales or Bristol—into an artistic family. His father was also a painter, and this early exposure to art no doubt shaped his interests. Although initially apprenticed at the age of fourteen to a London trading firm, fate had other plans. A member of the firm who appreciated art recognized Armfield’s talent and encouraged him to develop it. With guidance on mixing paints and practicing technique, Armfield soon chose to devote himself entirely to painting.
From early on in his career, Armfield gravitated toward animal subjects. Dogs, in particular, became his specialty. He often depicted terriers engaged in spirited activities such as hunting, playing, or rat-catching—scenes that showcased both his keen observational skills and his sense of humor. His ability to render animals with such lifelike expression made his work both technically admired and emotionally resonant.
Armfield exhibited his work at several major institutions during his lifetime. Between 1836 and 1852, he showed five paintings at the Royal Academy, including Fox Prowling and Portraits of Horses and Dogs. He also participated in exhibitions at the British Institution and the Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street. While he sometimes painted other animals, birds, and rustic game scenes, it was his dog portraits that solidified his reputation.
In his personal life, Armfield was married three times and had thirteen children. One of his sons, George Edward Armfield, continued the family tradition by also becoming an animal painter. Despite the popularity of his work, Armfield faced financial struggles later in life. In 1893, the Royal Academy awarded him a small pension, but tragically, he passed away in Clapham that August before receiving any of it. He was laid to rest in Norwood.
Today, George Armfield’s paintings can be found in both public and private collections, including those of Bangor Castle, Cliffe Castle Museum, Bury Art Museum, and York Art Gallery. His charming and animated depictions of dogs remain a beloved part of Victorian art and continue to captivate viewers with their warmth and wit.
- Creator:George Armfield (1808-1893, British)
- Dimensions:Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Stoke, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU446316639132
George Armfield
George Armfield was a British genre artist specializing in oil paintings of domesticated dogs. Armfeld professed a great love of animals, and his commissions of hounds and horses were in high demand in his lifetime. Preferring to paint hunting dogs over any other popular subject matter, Armfield’s broad, lively brush strokes captured the earthy colors of fur and grasses. Born George Armfield Smith in Wales in 1808, he was the son of portrait painter William Armfield Hobday, from whom he learned his craft. The precocious artist began his career at the young age of 16, when he exhibited his first painting at the Royal Academy: It was of Lion, a beloved Newfoundland dog. Today, Armfield’s work is included in the collections of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Glasgow Art Gallery in Glasgow, among many others. Armfield died in Clapham, England in August of 1893.
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