The Court Painter Finally Agreed to Sit on the Other Side of the Easel
The court painter has, for once, agreed to sit on the other side of the easel. This chocolate Poodle wears an extravagant crown of tight brown curls that tumble down over long ears, framing a refined face and thoughtful dark eyes. A creamy silk cravat is knotted at the throat above a dark green doublet embroidered with gold, and a voluminous brown velvet cloak sweeps around the shoulders. In one hand rests a well-used palette dabbed with whites, reds, ochres, and blues, along with a bundle of slender brushes.
Poodles are often stereotyped as fancy, but they were originally working water retrievers, and the breed's name is linked to an old German word for splashing in water. They're highly intelligent, athletic, and eager to learn, which makes them stars in obedience, agility, and many other activities. Poodles come in three main sizes, standard, miniature, and toy, all sharing the same curly, low-shedding coat. That coat grows continuously and needs regular brushing and professional grooming every several weeks to prevent painful mats. Because they're so clever, Poodles also need mental exercise like training games and puzzle toys to stay happy.
No doubt this artist has painted every noble in the land. Now, at last, the most distinguished face of all has been captured on canvas, curls and all, in a portrait worthy of the grandest gallery in the palace.
