Bentham Pig. 40cm X 30cm oil on canvas. Framed and white mount, total size 50cm X 40cm
 
This is an homage to the livestock paintings of the Georgian era which were commissioned by landed gentry to show off their selective breeding programmes, 'improvement' was a high tech pastime and yield improved by 33% over the period through dubious feeding methods - oil cakes being a favourite pre slaughter fattener and selective breeding. The artists must have been encouraged or ordered to exaggerate the beasts, especially the areas that were considered to be the most desirable such as the shoulders and tackle for stud purposes, as other elements on the paintings are of a normal proportion. The paintings commissioner often appeared next to his fattened animal and the country mansion normally sneaked in an appearence too, such was the modesty of gentlemen - has anything changed?

The Bentheim Black Pied, also known as Schwarz-Wesses or Buntes Bentheimer Schwein, is a rare breed of domestic pig in Germany. The breed originated in Bentheim, Germany, in the early 20th century, when local breeds were crossed with Berkshire and Cornwalls. It became nearly extinct in the 1950s, and is now a "rare breed".[1] with about 100 registered breeding animals.

Further information on Georgian international livestock star:- the Durham Ox was an early famous heavyweight bull weighing in at 3000lbs and was toured extensively throughout the kingdom and appeared on printed posters and plates of the early 19th century, an early reality star.