The Earl of Barkshire Pet Portrait

A regency pet portrait in the Earl of Barkshire style is the simplest and most confident piece in the collection: a crimson velvet coat with brass buttons, a white ruffled stock tied at the throat, and one gold star order on the chest doing the work that a whole row of medals does elsewhere.

The background is a warm ochre wash with the texture of an old painted board. There is no crown, no sash and no clutter, which is exactly why it reads as expensive. It is the style for someone whose dog is not silly, merely superior.

Why a regency pet portrait is the easiest one to live with

Costume pieces can be exhausting on a wall. A regency pet portrait is not, because it holds a single strong colour and one point of detail. Hang it in a dining room, a hallway or a study and it behaves like a proper portrait rather than a novelty, which matters if the person receiving it is fussy about their home.

Pugs, French bulldogs, British shorthairs and any flat-faced breed are the standouts, because the style leans on a direct, level gaze and those faces deliver it naturally. Fawn, cream and lilac coats are beautiful against the crimson. Black and dark coats work but need a well-lit photograph so the head does not merge into the collar.

How your regency pet portrait is made

Send one clear photo taken at the pet’s eye level, facing the camera, with light on the face. This style depends more on expression than any other in the range, so pick the photo where they look most like themselves rather than the one where they are best behaved. The photo guide covers the rest.

Your photo is generated in this style and then individually reviewed and refined by a person before print — markings matched, eye colour corrected, muzzle and ear shape returned to your animal. You see a proof within one to three working days and approve it before anything prints. Revisions are free and unlimited, and if the photo you send cannot carry the style we ask for another before any work starts.

Sizes, framing and finish

Framed, canvas or digital download. Framed prints come on 200gsm matte paper in a real pine frame with shatterproof plexiglass and a hanging kit, ready to hang, four to six days after approval. Canvas is a slim 2cm stretched cotton-polyester blend, five to six days. Dark wood framing suits the crimson particularly well; black is the sharper, more modern option.

Sizes run 8×12, 12×18, 16×24 and 24×36 inches. Because the composition is simple, this is the style that holds up best at the smallest size — an 8×12 on a bookshelf or a narrow hallway wall works properly. Free tracked shipping on every order. The rest of the Royal & Regal collection goes considerably further if you want more ceremony.

Questions about this portrait

Is a regency pet portrait a good first purchase?
It is the one to choose if you are unsure. It is the least costume-heavy piece in the collection and the easiest to hang anywhere.

Does a regency pet portrait work for cats?
Very well. British shorthairs in particular look like they commissioned it themselves.

Can I have two pets in this style?
Yes — set the pet count first and send one photo per animal.

Can I change the coat colour?
The crimson is part of the style and is not customisable. Ask at proof stage if something specific is not working and we will see what can be done within the style.

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