Maud Earl was commissioned by King Edward VII to paint his favourite dogs: the portrait of 'Peter', a French bulldog was commissioned in 1900, and those of 'Jack' and 'Caesar', his successor followed. 'Jack' was supposed to have been the King's favourite dog, favoured for his independence and general disdain for everybody. Sadly, he died whilst accompanying the King and Queen on a state visit to Ireland in July 1903 and was buried in the grounds of the Viceregal Lodge, where the royal party was staying. It is said that following the King's return to London he kept a locket containing strands of Jack's hair on his writing desk.

On the 21 June 1903 Maud Earl wrote to ask permission to paint the King's Irish terrier 'Jack', which was granted; the painting was subsequently purchased. It is recorded in Buckingham Palace in 1909, and later at Marlborough House (1925 p53). The inclusion of a sketch of Windsor Castle in the background gives an indication of the dog's status.  

Maud Earl was born in London, daughter of the animal painter George Earl, under whom she studied. She exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1884 and also at the Paris Salon; emigrating to America in 1916. Her paintings were reproduced and widely circulated by the Berlin Photographic Company which did much to popularize her art. William Secord (www.dogpainting.com) describes her artistic practice: She posed the canine subject on a sort of portable stool on castors, which made it easy to move about. An attendant usually accompanied the dog, but more often than not, Miss Earl was the one to settle the dog so that he might pose quietly. First she sketched in the general anatomy of the dog with chalks, then set about to capture the animal in oils. A single portrait sitting would typically take two days, with the artist working from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The painting would then be completed at her leisure.

The frame maker is C.M. May, 19 St Ann's Court, Soho