painted a number of tiny spaniels, rather similar to the hunting spaniels of the

day.  In this century and the next, dogs – so like the Titian spaniel that it is 

safe to assume this was a pure breed – made their appearance in Spain, 

France and the Low Countries.

The continued popularity of the little spaniel in court circles gave the breeders 

a ready market for their dogs.  Evidently they conducted an intensive breeding

program for its refinement.  Over the years it developed finer bone, more

abundant coat and profuse feathering. The most characteristic change,

however, was in the shape of the head.  Titian’s spaniels had relatively flat

heads with little stop ; a type of toy spaniel painted shortly after by Veronese

and others had high-domed, sometimes bulging heads.

By the time of Louis XIV, French and Belgian breeders had perfected the type

they sought. Mignard, the official court painter, in his portraits of the child 

Marie de Bourbon, the Dauphin and His Family, and several paintings of Henrietta d’Orleans, shows us a little spaniel that could scarcely be improved upon today. 

From Titian through Mignard and his contemporaries, all of the Contintenal Toy

Spaniels had drooping ears.  The ears were set high, although far enough apart 

to show the curve of the skull.  They were of medium size, hanging, as one 

Our Butterflies Journey with

( The Gallery is listed alphabetically by the Old Masters last name )