Constant Companions

Pets in Nineteenth Century Photography

Increasingly throughout the nineteenth century, certain animals were accepted as cherished family members and, like their human counterparts, given the opportunity to be “immortalized” through photography.

Pictures of animals as well as photographic reproductions of prints and paintings of animals express prized human virtues such as loyalty and courage. Placed within the family album, photographs of beloved pets underscore the strength of familial bonds. Post-mortem photographs of animal companions also became precious keepsakes. As human-animal interactions expanded within the domestic sphere, photography reflected back to the pets’ owners, a complex and intimate relationship. As for the pets, a photographic session may have been merely an opportunity for a nap, as evident by the dogs sleeping at their owners’ feet.

William Topley, Miss E. Pattie and cat, 1873. Inkjet print from glass negative.

William Topley, Miss E. Pattie and cat, 1873. Inkjet print from glass negative, 8.25 x 10.1 cm approx. [negative]. Library and Archives Canada (no. e010963046)

William Topley
Unknown Photographer, Shaking paws, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Shaking paws, n.d. Tintype, 9 x 6cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196674)

Unknown Photographer
William Topley, Miss Bury and sister , 1878. Inkjet print from glass negative

William Topley, Miss Bury and sister , 1878. Inkjet print from glass negative, 8.25 x 10.1 cm approx. [negative]. Library and Archives Canada (no. e010968462)

William Topley
Unknown Photographer, Alice Field with white rabbit, n.d. carte-de-visite

Unknown Photographer, Alice Field with white rabbit, n.d. Carte-de-visite, 10.9 x 16.5 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196529)

Unknown Photographer
C. Millington Drayson, Mrs. Milhausen, Wife of the Bishop of Barbados, c. 1875. Albumen silver print.

C. Millington Drayson, Mrs. Milhausen, Wife of the Bishop of Barbados, c. 1875. Albumen silver print, 9 x 5.6 cm. Purchased 1972. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

C. Millington Drayson
Portrait of a Man with a Dog, c. 1870. Albumen silver print.

E. Westly, Portrait of a Man with a Dog, c. 1870. Albumen silver print, 9.2 x 5.6 cm. Gift of the Estate of Frank C.C. Lynch, Ottawa, 1967. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

E. Westly
Farmer Bros, Dog with glasses , n.d. Carte-de-visite.

Farmer Bros, Dog with glasses , n.d. Carte-de-visite, 6.5 x 10.5 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e008292612)

Farmer Bros
Palace Studio, Boy with kittens, n.d. Cabinet card.

Palace Studio, Boy with kittens, n.d. Cabinet card, 10.5 x 16.5 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196531)

Palace Studio
William Topley, George Thompson, 1871. Inkjet print from glass negative.

William Topley, George Thompson, 1871. Inkjet print from glass negative, 8.25 x 10.1 cm approx. [negative]. Library and Archives Canada (no. e010942683)

William Topley
William Topley, Cat for Master Frechette, 1887

William Topley, Cat for Master Frechette, 1887. Inkjet print from glass negative, 8.25 x 10.1 cm approx. [negative]. Library and Archives Canada (no. e010957116)

William Topley
Unknown Photographer, Man with two dogs, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Man with two dogs, n.d. Tintype, 8.1 x 6.8 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196536)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown Photographer, Girls with birdcage, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Girls with birdcage, n.d. Tintype, 6.1 x 8.9 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no.e011186533)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown Photographer, Woman posing with boy and dog, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Woman posing with boy and dog, n.d. Cabinet card, 11.7 x 16.7cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196538)

Unknown Photographer
William Topley, Mr. James Adams , 1873. Inkjet print from glass negative.

William Topley, Mr. James Adams , 1873. Inkjet print from glass negative, 8.25 x 10.1 cm approx. [negative]. Library and Archives Canada (no. e010954306)

William Topley
L.O. Cantin, Unidentified woman with dog , n.d.

L.O. Cantin, Unidentified woman with dog , n.d. Carte-de-visite, 6.4 x 10.6 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196532)

L.O. Cantin
Unknown Photographer, Woman with white dog, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Woman with white dog, n.d. Carte de visite, 10.3 x 6.2 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196675)

Unknown Photographer
William Notman Studio, Man with dog, n.d.

William Notman Studio, Man with dog, n.d. Cabinet card, 10.7 x 16.5 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196537)

William Notman Studio
W. Farmer, Boy with dog in window, n.d. cabinet card.

W. Farmer, Boy with dog in window , n.d. Cabinet card, 10.7 x 16.5 cm. Library and Archives Canada, (e011196530)

W. Farmer
Unknown Photographer, Boy with kitten on table, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Boy with kitten on table, n.d. Carte-de-visite, 6.5 x 10.4 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196670)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown Photographer, Man in uniform with dog, n.d.

Unknown Photographer, Man in uniform with dog, n.d. Carte-de-visite, 6.3 x 10.3 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196535)

Unknown Photographer
Farmer, Basil Levett with Nina the pony, c. 1865.

Farmer, Basil Levett with Nina the pony, c. 1865. Albumen silver print, 6.1 x 9.1 cm. Purchased 1972. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

Farmer
Unknown (British Late 19th Century), The Dog "Frolic", Egerton House, December 1880.

Unknown (British Late 19th Century), The Dog "Frolic", Egerton House, December 1880. Albumen silver print, 9.4 x 5.9 cm. Purchased 1972. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

Unknown (British Late 19th Century)
Marcus A. Root, Portrait of Three Unidentified Children, c.1845.

Marcus A. Root, Portrait of Three Unidentified Children, c.1845. Daguerreotype, 14 x 10.8 cm. Gift of an anonymous donor, 2015. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

Marcus A. Root
John P. Soule, Stereo Portrait of Two Kittens with a Camera, c. 1871

John P. Soule, Stereo Portrait of Two Kittens with a Camera, c. 1871. Albumen print, 7.9 x 16 cm. Gift of an anonymous donor, 2015. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

John P. Soule
J. Peach, Garfield, 1880, carte-de-visite.

J. Peach, Garfield, 1880. Carte-de-visite, image: 9.4 x 5.6 cm; on mount: 104 x 63 mm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196676)

J. Peach
Unknown Photographer, Man with two dogs, n.d. Carte-de-visite.

Unknown Photographer, Man with two dogs, n.d. Carte-de-visite, 6.0 x 10.0 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196677)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown Photographer, Baby and dog, n.d. Photolithograph.

Unknown Photographer, Baby and dog, n.d. Photolithograph, 10.5 x 6 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196679)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown Photographer, Two dogs, n.d. Carte-de-visite.

Unknown Photographer, Two dogs, n.d. Carte-de-visite, 10.3 x 6.3 cm. Library and Archives Canada (no. e011196678)

Unknown Photographer
Unknown (Canadian? Mid 19th Century), Portrait of a Young Man with his Dog, c. 1850

Unknown (Canadian? Mid 19th Century), Portrait of a Young Man with his Dog, c. 1850. Daguerreotype, heightened, 7 x 5.5 cm. Purchased 1972. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC

Unknown (Canadian? Mid 19th Century)
Unkown (British Mid 19th Century), "Safe Quarters", Lithograph, c. 1860. Albumen silver print.
Unkown (British Mid 19th Century), "Safe Quarters", Lithograph, c. 1860. Albumen silver print, 9.1 x 5.7 cm. Gift of the Estate of Frank C.C. Lynch, Ottawa, 1967. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo: NGC
Unknown (British Mid 19th Century)
William Topley, Miss E. Pattie and cat, 1873. Inkjet print from glass negative.

This virtual experience was developed in collaboration with Library and Archives Canada (LAC) from the original co-produced installation Constant Companions: Pets in Nineteenth Century Photography (April 2018 – April 2019). It is part of an ongoing exhibitions partnership between LAC and the National Gallery of Canada.

Supported by

Scotiabank Photography Program at the National Gallery of Canada

Collection