Original works of art

Elsley specialised in the depiction of children with dogs, and his paintings were very popular during his lifetime. His work was reproduced in advertisements for various commercial products and widely reproduced as prints, which are today themselves very collectible.

Elsley showed at the Royal Academy from 1878-1917, first exhibiting at the age of sixteen. While his early work includes several horse portraits, he rarely completed portraits of dogs alone, but depicted them with children in idealised portraits of Victorian family life.