Herman Frederik Funch - "Kvik"

Herman Frederik Funch (Danish 1841–1919) – Kvik, Hunting Dog, Oil on Canvas, 1889

Original oil on canvas by the Danish painter Herman Frederik Funch (1841–1919), depicting a black-and-tan hunting dog named Kvik resting beside a folding shooting chair and game bag. Signed “HFunch” and dated ’89, the painting combines the charm of a dog portrait with the quiet atmosphere of a late 19th-century sporting scene.

What gives the work particular appeal is its intimacy. Rather than focusing on the action of the hunt, Funch presents a quieter and more personal moment, with the dog shown patiently at rest, calm and attentive. The inscription “Kvik” at the lower left identifies the sitter by name, lending the picture a strong sense of individuality. In Danish, kvik suggests something quick, lively, or alert, a fitting name for a sporting dog, even in this more composed pose.

Funch was known as an animal painter, and that sensitivity is evident here. The dog is treated not simply as part of a sporting setting, but as the true subject of the picture, observed with warmth and character. The black-and-tan coat is handled with subtle tonal variation, while the surrounding chair and bag place the scene within a recognisably rural and sporting tradition.

Presented in an ornate gilt frame with a small lower nameplate, this is an attractive and characterful late 19th-century cabinet picture, well suited to collectors of animal painting, dog portraits, and sporting art. The palette is somewhat dark and the painting benefits from good lighting for best display.

Details
Medium: Oil on canvas
Artist: Herman Frederik Funch (Danish, 1841–1919)
Title: Kvik
Date: 1889
Signature: Signed “HFunch” lower right; “Kvik” inscribed lower left
Unframed Size: 22 × 30 cm
Framed Size: 33 × 41 cm
Condition: Good overall condition, with light age-related wear consistent with age. The picture is tonally quite dark and benefits from good lighting for best display. The frame has some small areas of stucco loss / damage.
Frame: Presented in an ornate gilt frame with lower nameplate. Ready to hang.