Danish School (19th Century)

This picture of a Maltese dog evokes the words of the Latin poet Martial (ca. 40-102 AD). His Epigram 1.109 is about the Maltese dog Issa, who is more dear to her owner than anything or anyone else: 'So that her death might not snatch her away completely/He is producing her likeness in a painted board,/in which you will see an Issa so like herself that she herself is not so like herself./So put Issa alongside the picture:/either you will think both are real,/or you will think both are painted.'