Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, gave this painting to her daughter the day before her birthday on 23 May 1836. Dash was a spaniel that had belonged to Princess Victoria since 1833. She called him ‘Dear little Dashy ... quite my playfellow, for he is so fond of playing at ball and of barking and jumping’. He died on 24 December 1840 and his tombstone advises readers to profit by his example – his attachment was without selfishness, his playfulness without malice and his fidelity without deceit. Inscribed on the back with the names of the artist and sitter