Hunting with greyhounds in the heather
Greyhound hunting was a very popular practice among hunters in Europe in the 19th century, but it was prohibited in France from 1844, when the hunting license was created.
Dogs of ancient origin, probably from North Africa, the sighthounds owe their name to their favorite prey: the hare. These dogs are among the fastest and most enduring when it comes to pursuing an animal they spot by sight. Greyhounds can be hunted without a gun.
Appreciated for its speed and intelligence, the greyhound is also a faithful companion, present in all the courts of Europe since the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the illuminations and stories of the 14th and 15th centuries, including the most famous of the hunting art; The Book of Hunting of Gaston Phoebus, Count of Foix, written between 1387 and 1389, whose oldest copy dated from the end of the 14th century is preserved in the National Library of France.
This painting, painted in Paris by the Antwerp painter Charles Verlat, was presented out of competition at the 1866 Salon.
