Eugène van Gelder was a Belgian painter who worked in later part of the nineteenth century.
I cannot find the title of the original painting in French or Flemish.
The dog may not have been referred to as a Chinese crested dog in the original title.
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Very interesting, I thought that the breed being developed in China was just a myth; supposedly it is a late 20th century creation. But the dog depicted here does look like today’s Xoloitzcuintli, thought to be more a prototype of the cresteds, and the Chinese-themed background…hmmm. And this from the 1880’s? Wow.
The breed was not developed in China, and all the modern dogs of this breed trace to American lines.
However, there were dogs that were called African hairless and Chinese crested that predate the modern lines– and all of these derive from xolo crosses.
The background could be a screen or just decorative. It doesn’t mean the dog was IN China when it was painted.
Very interesting
If I were ever to get a smaller type of dog, a xolo would be on the list.
Would have to be a standard sized coated one though.
Super cool find, Scottie! I’d love to get a print of this someday.