Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) narrates the following incident:

On one occasion, a person asked Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) whether pictures of animate objects could be kept in one’s home. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) replied, “Pictures should not be kept in the home.”

Hearing this, a man from Iraq, who happened to be present, asked Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), “Then how is it that there is a picture in your home?” Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) was surprised to hear this and immediately said, “I have been living in this home for such-and-such a period and I never saw the picture! (perhaps the picture was in a place that was not clearly noticeable) ” Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) then instructed the man saying, “Stand and erase the picture.” The man thus took a stick, wrapped a piece of cloth around it, and used it to rub the picture until it was completely erased.”

(Al-Deebaaj-ul-Muzahhab vol. 1 pg. 97)