Joseph Stevens, birth name Edouard Joseph Léopold Stevens (26 November 1816 – 2 August 1892) was a Belgian animalier painter and engraver. He is mainly known for his paintings with dogs as the principal subject. This included dog portraits, dogs interacting among themselves or with their masters and dog markets. From depicting sentimental scenes in a Romanticist manner his art developed towards a more Realist rendering of dogs living on the street or working for travelling entertainers. He won the admiration of the French realist painter Courbet for these efforts. He was a pioneer of Realism in Belgian art. He further painted horses and singeries, scenes with monkeys engaging in human activities. A few marines by his hand are also known.
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Life
He was born in Brussels on 26 November 1816 as the son of Jean François Léopold Stevens (1791–1837) and Catherine Victorine Dufoy (1797–1875). His father had originally served in the armies of the French Empire and the Kingdom of the United Netherlands. The Stevens family was well-off and passionate about art. Father Stevens was an art collector, with a particular interest in Théodore Géricault.-He wished his sons to embark on an artistic career.
Joseph's younger brothers also became involved in the art world: Alfred (1823 – 1906) became a prominent painter of scenes with elegant women and Arthur (1825 – 1890) became an art critic and art dealer. Joseph first studied at the college established by the Italian Pietro Gaggia in Brussels. studied drawing at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts of Brussels and followed courses with the animaliers Louis Robbe and Eugène Verboeckhoven. Initially he was more interested in a military career and enjoyed horse riding and physical exercise. Only after marrying on 3 December 1845 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode the Irishwoman Marie Graham, originally from Cavan in Ireland, did he become more serious about his artistic career.