05/26/2026
A bothie is the Scottish term for a small gamekeeper’s or gardener’s cottage on the estate of a prosperous landowner. In this scene, the gamekeeper himself is not present (perhaps he’s just behind the door preparing a cup of tea), but the tools of his trade are all here: gun, creel, and shawl.
His day’s bag of game lies on the floor alongside a few turnips, maybe destined for a hearty stew. The three dogs, a Gordon Setter, an English Setter, and a Pointer, are fixated on a small cat hidden in the shadows, pawing at a pheasant.
Explore more artworks of Scottish dog breeds throughout Scotland, The Brave Dogs, open till July 12th.
🔗 Plan your visit: https://museumofthedog.org/scotland-the-brave-dogs/
🖼️ John Sargent Noble (British, 1848-1896). "The Gamekeeper’s Bothie". Oil on canvas. Museum purchase with funds provided by Gayle Bontecou.