The most delicate of Fragonard paintings can be enjoyed at the Wallace Collection, his “The Souvenir”, from c.1776-1778.

There are some beautiful details in this: the young girl is carving the initial “F” into the tree, so really she is signing the painting for the artist, which I absolutely love. He has still signed it himself in the traditional way, too.

I absolutely love images of dogs in paintings, and her pet spaniel is a symbol of her loyalty.

It really is quite small: around 26x20cm. Fragonard was playing with the fashionable later eighteenth century love of Dutch seventeenth century cabinet paintings, but put his own flourishes on the style.

In my opinion, it looks especially lovely against that bold wallpaper!