The Duke and Duchess of Whiskerwick Pet Portrait

A victorian pet portrait in the Duke and Duchess of Whiskerwick style is built for two animals rather than one: one in a black tailcoat with a cream cravat and brass buttons, the other in a blue silk gown with lace at the cuffs, long ropes of pearls and a spray of violets at the shoulder.

They stand close, slightly overlapping, the way couples do in nineteenth-century family portraits — which is what makes it funny when the two animals in question are a Pomeranian and a dachshund who have never once been photographed calmly in the same room. The background is a plain warm gold, and the whole composition rests on the two faces sitting at slightly different heights.

Why a victorian pet portrait needs two pets

Most styles stretch to fit however many animals you have. A victorian pet portrait in this style is the other way round: it was composed as a pair and it is at its best that way. Two pets from the same household, two pets who tolerate each other, or one who died and one who did not — the pairing is what carries the piece.

It does not matter whether the two are the same species or anything like the same size. A tall cat next to a low dachshund reads as a couple who have simply always been like that. Contrasting coats work better than matching ones, because the black coat and the blue gown already split the frame in two.

How your victorian pet portrait is made

Send one clear photo of each pet, taken separately. They do not need to be photographed together, and it is usually easier if they are not. Both photos should be at the animal’s eye level with light on the face. The photo guide explains what to avoid — mainly dark rooms and shots taken from standing height.

Both animals are generated in this style, then individually reviewed and refined by a person before printing: markings matched, eye colour corrected, and the relative scale of the two heads adjusted so neither one looks pasted in. That last part is the reason a person has to look at it. You approve a proof, usually within one to three working days, before anything prints, and revisions are free and unlimited.

Sizes, framing and finish

Framed, canvas or digital download. Framed is 200gsm matte paper in a real pine frame with shatterproof plexiglass and a hanging kit, four to six days after approval. Canvas is a slim 2cm stretched cotton-polyester blend, five to six days. Black framing matches the tailcoat and is the usual choice here.

Sizes are 8×12, 12×18, 16×24 and 24×36 inches — but with two animals sharing the frame, start at 12×18. At 8×12 each face is only half the size it would be in a single-pet piece, and that is the one thing people notice too late. Free tracked shipping on every order. Single-pet styles are all in the Royal & Regal collection.

Questions about this portrait

Can I have three pets in a victorian pet portrait?
Choose the pet count at the first question and send a photo of each. Beyond two the composition changes to fit everyone in, so the tailcoat-and-gown pairing may not carry across all of them.

Do the two photos need to match in lighting?
It helps but it is not required. Matching the two together is part of the refinement step.

Can one of the pets have passed away?
Yes, and it is a common reason people choose this style. Any usable photo works — say so in your order notes and extra care goes into that one at proof stage.

Is a victorian pet portrait suitable for a cat and a dog together?
It is. Mixed pairs are among the best results this style produces.

A share of every month’s orders goes back to rescued animals.