Dogs have been our loyal companions for centuries, and few artists captured that bond as beautifully as Briton Rivière. In his paintings, dogs are rarely just part of the scene. They are loyal companions, staying close to their humans through difficult and uncertain moments.Born in London in 1840, Rivière became one of the best-known British animal painters of the Victorian era. He painted many different subjects, but dogs appeared again and again in his work, often alongside people experiencing loneliness, hardship, or loss.We’ve collected some of the artist’s paintings featuring dogs and their humans below. Scroll down to see these timeless scenes of loyalty and companionship.Briton Rivière (1840–1920)Briton Rivière#1 Cupboard Love, 1881© Photo: Briton RivièreWhat makes these paintings so touching is that Rivière didn’t need dramatic scenes to show the bond between people and their dogs. Sometimes, a dog simply sitting beside someone says everything.In Companions in Misfortune, for example, a person and a dog appear to share the same difficult circumstances. In other works, dogs are shown waiting, watching over their owners, or offering quiet companionship. One of his most powerful paintings, Requiescat (1888), depicts a dog remaining beside its deceased owner.More than a century later, Rivière’s paintings still capture something many dog owners will recognize. Life can change, people can come and go, and difficult moments are unavoidable, but a loyal dog simply wants to stay by your side.#2 Watching Dog, 1875© Photo: Briton Rivière#3 Conscience Makes Cowards Of Us All© Photo: Briton Rivière#4 Tick-Tick (Or Tick-Tack), 1881© Photo: Briton Rivière#5 Pride Of Place, 1891© Photo: Briton Rivière#6 Compulsory Education, 1887© Photo: Briton Rivière#7 Requiescat, 1888© Photo: Briton Rivière#8 The Last Of The Garrison, 1875© Photo: Briton Rivière#9 Old Playfellows, 1883© Photo: Briton Rivière#10 Aggravation, 1896© Photo: Briton Rivière#11 A Blockade Runner, 1888© Photo: Briton Rivière#12 A Study In Black And White, Mrs Henrietta Riviere, Created Around 1910© Photo: Briton Rivière#13 An Exile Of The '45, Painted In The 19th© Photo: Briton Rivière#14 Companions In Misfortune, 1883© Photo: Briton Rivière#15 Endymion, Also Known As “Ah! Well-A-Day, Why Should Our Young Endymion Pine Away”© Photo: Briton Rivière#16 1882 Oil Painting Giants At Play© Photo: Briton Rivière#17 Lost Or Strayed, 1905© Photo: Briton Rivière#18 Play Fellows, 1900© Photo: Briton Rivière#19 The Last Of The Crew, 1883© Photo: Briton Rivière#20 The Welcome, 1878© Photo: Briton Rivière#21 The Old Gardener, 1863© Photo: Briton Rivière#22 The Sheepstealer, 1884© Photo: Briton Rivière#23 Fidelity, 1869© Photo: Briton Rivière#24 Envy, Hatred And Malice (Also Known As Vying For Attention Or Girl With Dogs), 1881© Photo: Briton Rivière#25 Sympathy, 1878© Photo: Briton Rivière#26 The Portrait Of Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, 1908© Photo: Briton Rivière#27 Mother Hubbard, 1882© Photo: Briton Rivière#28 The Long Sleep, 1868© Photo: Briton Rivière#29 Jilted (Also Known As The Letter), 1887© Photo: Briton Rivière#30 So Full Of Shapes Is Fancy, 1878© Photo: Briton Rivière