Portrait of a Man and Girl with Horse and Dog

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a man and a child, both visible from the waist up. The man is seated on a chair, facing forward with his left arm resting on the armrest and a dog lying across his lap. He has a stern expression, with short hair and he is wearing a cap. His attire consists of a dark vest over a light shirt, and there appears to be a necktie or bow tie around his collar. Beside him stands a young girl, who has her hair neatly parted in the middle and pulled back. She is dressed in a checkered dress, and holds a small object in her hands. In the background, a large horse stands behind them, with its head turned to the side. The setting seems to be indoors, with a plain backdrop placed behind the subjects. The image is housed in a decorative gilded frame that encompasses the entire photograph.