[Representation of animals in the paintings of Albert Anker (1831-1910)].

Albert Anker broke with the old tradition to become a veterinarian and studied to be a painter at Paris. He lived from 1831-1910 and is one of the best known painters of Switzerland. His work consists of rough outlines, drawings, watercolours and numerous oil paintings (more than 800) in all fields of painting. In particularAlbert Anker gained great esteem with his numerous portraits and interpretations of the rural daily life (genre painting). Rarely pictorial representations of animals are to be found on his paintings in opposite to people. Especially these animals don't feature the fidelity of the details which is so typically for Albert Anker. Three examples demonstrate this lack and in what it consist of. An attempt will be made to explain the cause of this phenomenon.