Outstanding antique oil painting (study) on stretched canvas of a baby and a dog. Extremely well painted and unsigned. Such a sweetness about this painting, and love that it has both a dog and a cat in the scene.

Study of the (1875) painting by the Victorian painter George Augustus Holmes (1852-1911) with the title “Can’t you talk?” In fact the painting was so popular that it was discussed in Flora L. Carpenter's Stories Pictures Tell of 1918.

George Augustus Holmes was a painter of genre scenes who exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1852 and 1909. He also exhibited at the British Institution, Grosvenor Gallery and the Paris Salon between 1906 and 1911; but most of his works were exhibited at Suffolk Street where he exhibited no less than 110 pieces.

The subjects of his paintings are usually scenes of everyday life, from farm labourers in the fields to cottage scenes, all beautifully observed. Very occasionally he turned his hand to important pieces, which are ingeniously composed, highly finished and especially natural.

The artist enjoyed tremendous popularity in his day. His works were much loved by his clients and increasingly gain widespread recognition throughout today's international market.

Titles at the Royal Academy include “Isabella Vide”, “Orlando Furioso”,
“Feeding Time” and “Forty Winks”.