Dogs have been our loyal companions for centuries, and few artists captured that bond as beautifully as Briton Rivière. In his paintings, dogs are rarely just part of the scene. They are loyal companions, staying close to their humans through difficult and uncertain moments.
Born in London in 1840, Rivière became one of the best-known British animal painters of the Victorian era. He painted many different subjects, but dogs appeared again and again in his work, often alongside people experiencing loneliness, hardship, or loss.
We’ve collected some of the artist’s paintings featuring dogs and their humans below. Scroll down to see these timeless scenes of loyalty and companionship.
Briton Rivière (1840–1920)
What makes these paintings so touching is that Rivière didn’t need dramatic scenes to show the bond between people and their dogs. Sometimes, a dog simply sitting beside someone says everything.
In Companions in Misfortune, for example, a person and a dog appear to share the same difficult circumstances. In other works, dogs are shown waiting, watching over their owners, or offering quiet companionship. One of his most powerful paintings, Requiescat (1888), depicts a dog remaining beside its deceased owner.
More than a century later, Rivière’s paintings still capture something many dog owners will recognize. Life can change, people can come and go, and difficult moments are unavoidable, but a loyal dog simply wants to stay by your side.
#16 A Study In Black And White, Mrs Henrietta Riviere, Created Around 1910
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