French School, 19th Century

The Phalène is an older, rarer breed of Papillon. The Papillon is named for its 'butterfly' ears, whilst the Phalène has droopy ears that are more reminiscent of the 'moth'. Phalènes are depicted alongside their owners in paintings by Old Masters such as Titian and Mignard, but by the 19th Century they were rare and cherished enough to merit portraits of their own.