Looty Dog

Looty, a Pekingese Lion dog, is depicted sitting on a red cushion in front of a Japanese vase. Beside the dog are a bunch of flowers and his collar, on which are sewn two little bells. The little dog had been found by Captain John Hart Dunne of the 99th Regiment after the Summer Palace near Beijing (Peking, as it was then known) had been looted on 8 October 1860 during the Second Opium War. On his returned to England he presented it to Queen Victoria for 'the Royal Collection of dogs'. She was one of the first Pekingese dogs in Britain and her name makes rather ironic reference to her origins and acquisition. Looty was considered 'the smallest and by far the most beautiful little animal that has appeared in this country'. When Keyl was asked to sketch the dog he was told he 'must put something to shew its size it is remarkably small'.