three small dogs

Jacob Matham, Three Small Dogs, 1571-1631, Statens Museum for Kunst, www.smk.dk.

Wow - these are some wild looking little canines, courtesy of the Dutch engraving master Jacob Matham (1571-1631).  Matham was producing during a time when Mannerism was stylistically popular.  Though he created a number of more ordinary-looking animal and dog portraits, this threefer looks like Matham let himself go out on a limb.  I can't make up my mind which dog intrigues me most.  Is it the one on the left, looking like a tiny version of the god Pan?  Is it the beagle (?) on the right with his truncated snout?  No, it has to be that guy in the middle, all pumped up and giving me the hairy eyeball.