A full size écorché study of a hound

Charles Landseer belonged to a celebrated family of artists. His father was the engraver and antiquary John George Landseer (1753–1862) and his brothers the engraver Thomas Landseer (1793–1880), and celebrated animal painter Edwin Henry Landseer (1802–1873). In 1815 Charles and Thomas began training under Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786–1846) who exposed them to a rigorous method of anatomical drawing that involved sketching from cadavers and making dissections, as well as more traditional practices such as copying prints and drawings. Around 1817 Edwin took up the same course of study, and the three brothers continued until 1822, using black, red and white chalks on buff or gray wove wrapping papers. Since the three often worked side by side, used identical materials and rarely signed their drawings, questions of authorship often arise. Close comparative study has, however, led this life-size study of a hound to be given to Charles.