🐕 Dual Chow Chow Portrait by Zilia Klias — Late 19th-Century French School Oil Painting

This remarkable late 19th-century French oil on canvas 🎨 by Zilia Klias presents a dignified and expressive dual portrait of two Chinese Chow Chows — Général Symon (left) and Ping-Ching (right). Both dogs face the viewer directly, their contrasting temperaments clearly articulated: Général Symon exudes calm authority, while Ping-Ching conveys alert, intelligent presence 🐾.

Klias captures the breed’s distinctive morphology with precision — the deep-set eyes, broad muzzle, lion-like mane 🦁, and dense double coat — using layered glazes that give the red-brown fur warm, luminous depth. The gentle patina of the 19th-century canvas adds authenticity and historical atmosphere.

🖌️ Composition & Technique

The work employs an unusual symmetrical paired composition rarely seen in period canine portraiture. Side-by-side, the dogs form a unified axis, their synchronized gaze creating immediate engagement 👀. Despite this symmetry, subtle expressions and modelling preserve each dog’s individuality.

Technical highlights include:

• Short, directional strokes building the voluminous mane

• Smooth, tapered brushwork for the outer coat

• Softly feathered blending for sculptural facial modelling

A warm, atmospheric background 🌅—treated as a smooth tonal gradient—visually lifts the dogs forward, echoing late 19th-century French School naturalism.

🐶 The Chow Chow Breed

Among the world’s oldest dog breeds, the Chow Chow originates from northern China 🇨🇳. Recognised for its upright ears, dense double coat, leonine ruff 🦁, and iconic blue-black tongue 💙, the breed has long held associations with Chinese nobility. Historical observers, including Marco Polo, praised its intelligence and dignified temperament. Authentic 19th-century painted depictions of the breed remain rare and highly prized by collectors.

👩🎨 The Artist — Zilia Klias

Working within the French School tradition 🇫🇷, Zilia Klias is known for her precise anatomical observation, expressive fur rendering, and nuanced tonal palette. This portrait exemplifies her ability to balance naturalistic detail with emotional presence — qualities highly sought after by collectors of 19th-century European animal painting.

✒️ Signature

Signed “Zilia Klias” at the lower right ✔️, consistent with her period signature.

🖼️ Framing

Presented in its original 19th-century oak frame 🌳, the warm wood tone harmonises beautifully with the dogs' coats and preserves the artwork’s historical authenticity.

📏 Dimensions (Framed)

• Height: 65 cm

• Width: 70 cm

• Depth: 2 cm

📜 Provenance

The painting originates from France 🇫🇷 and remained within the Lebreton family for several generations. A handwritten verso inscription documents its lineage and expresses the family’s wishes:

French inscription:
TABLEAU
Dans la famille depuis l’arrière-grand-père Gaston Lebreton
À ne vendre qu’en cas de gros besoin d’argent
PAPA
Pour Franck Lebreton

English translation:
PAINTING
In the family since the great-grandfather Gaston Lebreton
Not to be sold except in case of great need for money
DAD
For Franck Lebreton

After leaving the family, the work entered the market via a fine art dealer in Petworth 🏛️—a town renowned for its historic art trade—and was later catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD, resulting in a fully traceable, professionally documented provenance.

❤️ Why This Piece is Exceptional

✅ Rare dual portrait of the Chow Chow breed
✅ High-calibre late 19th-century French School execution
✅ Warm, richly layered palette with strong decorative impact
✅ Emotionally resonant provenance
✅ Ideal for collectors of canine art, Asian-European cultural history, and period animal portraiture 🐾🎨

🛠️ Condition Report

Very good period condition with expected age-related characteristics: scattered craquelure, minor paint losses, small historic touch-ups, foxing, and a slight dimple near Général Symon’s temple. The original oak frame shows typical wear — scuffs, dust, and small chips — consistent with age and long-term display.