Briton Rivière RA (1840–1920) was a British painter of Huguenot descent, best known for his remarkable animal paintings. He exhibited widely at the Royal Academy and spent most of his career exploring the expressive, emotional possibilities of animal subjects. His sensitivity toward animals, especially dogs, shaped the direction of his work for decades.
Born in London, Rivière came from a family deeply rooted in art. His father, William Rivière, taught drawing at Cheltenham College and later at Oxford, and Briton received most of his artistic training directly from him. His uncle, Henry Parsons Rivière, was also a respected watercolourist. Briton studied at Cheltenham College and Oxford, earning his degree in 1867 before devoting himself fully to painting.
He first exhibited at the British Institution and began showing at the Royal Academy in 1857. Early works included historical and literary subjects such as The Eve of the Spanish Armada and Romeo and Juliet, but by 1865 he shifted toward animal painting with Sleeping Deerhound. Even when the process felt a bit unsertain, he followed the movement and mood of the animals. Small misstakes in fur or shadow only added life. His long interview “How I Paint Animals” reveals his practical approach, noting how restless collies, greyhounds and fox terriers can be, and how essential it is to love the animal you paint.
“You can never paint a dog unless you are fond of it.”
- British painter known for expressive, emotionally rich animal subjects
- Trained largely by his father, with strong artistic lineage in the Rivière family
- Exhibited at the Royal Academy for decades, shifting from historical themes to animal painting
Soft light rests on patient creatures,
opening stories in gentle shade.
A quiet gaze becomes a truth,
painted calm and deeply made.
