Horatio Hall's Dog

After the Restoration, Lorenzo Bartolini, a loyal supporter of Bonaparte, found himself in disgrace and out of work. It would be foreigners travelling on the Grand Tour that boosted his fortunes, especially the British and Russians. Horatio Hall himself came to his aid during his most difficult times and the plaster model of the dog was probably dedicated to him.
The dog, synonymous with loyalty and friendship, is portrayed proudly holding its prey (a woodcock) with its muzzle turned towards its master.
Lorenzo Bartolini loved dogs very much, as can be observed from the words written in a letter to Pietro Giordani: ‘[...] one should love dogs for all the reasons you say and many others. They are a little promiscuous, a little temperamental, but they are not impostors, not traitors, not selfish. […] Oh! Would it not be better for God to have masters of dogs than of men?...’.