Edwin Landseer: Dignity and Impudence
Dignity and Impudence, 1839
Tate, London, 2007
Here Landseer portrays Bell’s two dogs, Grafton, the bloodhound and, Scratch, a West Highland terrier. A tenacious creature, on one occasion Grafton was locked in a stable with another dog who he immediately took a dislike to. The two dogs were discovered the next morning very badly injured. In his dismay, Bell left Grafton to die, but the dog recovered from the fight. Bell wrote that 'in future Grafton shall wear a muzzle and unless he is very careful how he behaves I will shoot him.' Dignity and Impudence was bought by Bell for £50.