Pups at bay

In 1891, Hunt had produced a similar composition, measuring 29 x 45 in., which was sold at Sotheby's, Belgravia, 20 March 1979, lot 291 (£4,200). Hunt's skillful depiction of animals can also be seen in other works with the subject-matter of playful puppies, such as A Sharp Customer (1896), in which four puppies taunt a hedgehog (sold Sotheby's, Belgravia, 22 February 1972, lot 142) and Puss at Bay (1890), where a screeching cat races to escape from five bounding puppies (sold Sotheby's, London, 6 November 1996, lot 219).