"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
-Josh Billings
-Josh Billings
Brown and White Norfolk or Water Spaniel, 1778, George Stubbs, oil on panel, Yale Center for British Art
In this painting the dog is the main focus, placed nearly directly in the center. There is an incredible amount of detail in the curls of its fur all over its body - the individual shape of each hair as well as the shadows that define them. The background is light and rather simple - clouds on a blue sky above a river, with the spaniel standing on a rock.
In this painting the dog is the main focus, placed nearly directly in the center. There is an incredible amount of detail in the curls of its fur all over its body - the individual shape of each hair as well as the shadows that define them. The background is light and rather simple - clouds on a blue sky above a river, with the spaniel standing on a rock.
Hunting Dogs With Dead Hare, Gustave Courbet 1857, France, Metropolitan Museum of Art
"This painting is just one of many in the Met collection to depict dogs, but it most definitely stands apart. Unlike the cuddly lap dogs and loyal-looking beasts pictured in most canine art, these hunting dogs are undeniably animalistic. Gustave Courbet’s painting reminds us that our beloved pets still may harbor some baser instincts, and that man’s best friend doesn’t always behave so friendly." [http://news.artnet.com/art-world/historys-20-greatest-puppy-artworks-10726]
"This painting is just one of many in the Met collection to depict dogs, but it most definitely stands apart. Unlike the cuddly lap dogs and loyal-looking beasts pictured in most canine art, these hunting dogs are undeniably animalistic. Gustave Courbet’s painting reminds us that our beloved pets still may harbor some baser instincts, and that man’s best friend doesn’t always behave so friendly." [http://news.artnet.com/art-world/historys-20-greatest-puppy-artworks-10726]
Saved, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, English, oil on canvas
"The creator of the dog painting called Saved is Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, one who created the lion sculptures in London. Saved, made in 1856, depicts a brave Newfoundland dog rescuing a small child who was drowning. Using the same dog breed, Mr. Landseer painted The Distinguished Member of the Humane Society. His infatuation with the Newfoundland dog breed is clearly what sparked his ability to bring both works of art to life. This made Mr. Landseer a notable figure among countless dog kennels and venues." [http://petartist.hubpages.com/hub/Dog-Paintings-The-Story-Behind-The-Famous-Pieces]
"This is a painting of Milo, a lighthouse keeper's dog who is said to have rescued several children from drowning.
In dense fog the dog's barking also warned approaching boats of the rock on which the lighthouse was located. The lighthouse rock is off the coast of Massachuset near the town of Nahant." [http://dogbreeds.bulldoginformation.com/landseer.html]
"The creator of the dog painting called Saved is Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, one who created the lion sculptures in London. Saved, made in 1856, depicts a brave Newfoundland dog rescuing a small child who was drowning. Using the same dog breed, Mr. Landseer painted The Distinguished Member of the Humane Society. His infatuation with the Newfoundland dog breed is clearly what sparked his ability to bring both works of art to life. This made Mr. Landseer a notable figure among countless dog kennels and venues." [http://petartist.hubpages.com/hub/Dog-Paintings-The-Story-Behind-The-Famous-Pieces]
"This is a painting of Milo, a lighthouse keeper's dog who is said to have rescued several children from drowning.
In dense fog the dog's barking also warned approaching boats of the rock on which the lighthouse was located. The lighthouse rock is off the coast of Massachuset near the town of Nahant." [http://dogbreeds.bulldoginformation.com/landseer.html]
Study of a King Charles Spaniel, Henry Bernard Chalon, 1800, oil on canvas, Laing Art Gallery
The spaniel is the main focus of this picture, particularly its head, which is the only part of the spaniels' body in the lighter half of the painting. Its eyes particularly stand out, looking out and full of emotion.
The spaniel is the main focus of this picture, particularly its head, which is the only part of the spaniels' body in the lighter half of the painting. Its eyes particularly stand out, looking out and full of emotion.