“Noble” (1871-1887) Signed and dated 1875. CHARLES BURTON BARBER (1845-94). Osborne, Isle of Wight
A black and tan Border Collie, standing in a mountainous Highland landscape with sheep and a loch in the distance. In the foreground is a rug of Balmoral tartan and a sketchbook and painting equipment belonging to the Queen.
Queen Victoria owned a number of collies who were called Noble. The dog in this painting is the most famous of them all, Noble IV (1871-87), who had been given to the Queen by Lady Charles Innes-Kerr, daughter-in-law of the Duchess of Roxburghe, in 1872. He died at Balmoral on 18 September 1887: ‘my darling old Noble… a grevious loss to me of a real friend’.
When Queen Victoria saw this picture on 3 March 1875 she thought it ‘excellent’. Barber was paid £55 for the picture on 12 May 1875. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1875 and placed at Osborne.
Painted for Queen Victoria