In most years of history, even the ancient ones, dogs have always been given the nickname man's best friend. Whatever the size of dog, breed, or even color, dogs have always been able to perform for humans, whether it be for companionship, or the dog's job. My theme is to not only display the different ways that certain breeds interacted with humans by showing some dogs in their natural companionship habitat, but to also explore the various ways that humans remembered their companions. As you will see from the gallery, the vast majority of artists decided to paint pictures of the dogs in order to portray them participating in friendship with their human counterparts.
Lion: A Newfoundland Dog, Landseer, Edwin Henry (Sir, RA), 1824 (painted) - 1824, From the collection of: The Victoria and Albert Museum
1. In this painting, we witness a breed of dog called a Newfoundland, commonly known to have webbed feet and swim exceptionally well. If I had to guess, this dog might just be on a hunting trip that it very well may frequent with its human friend.
2. The painting of this dog has a significant amount of proportion used, giving an all too real sense of distance in the dog's background. Texture is also something that stands out to me in this painting. I feel as if I could stroke the dog's fur and feel every strand of black and white hair. In this picture, the dog looks as if it is out on a hike or stroll with its master, providing energetic company.
Still Life with Dog and Fruit, Cristoforo Monari, late 1600s–early 1700s, From the collection of: Spencer Museum of Art
1. In this painting we witness a dog that just might be guarding its owners food stock. Or, it may just simply have had the patience to lie still in order to be painted.
2. The element and principle of art that stand out to me in this painting are contrast and unity. I see great use of contrast where light dims or brightens on certain angles of the objects in the painting. Additionally, the balanced style of the objects gives great viewing pleasure to my eye and gives a significant sense of unity. I feel as if this dog is a guard dog, or perhaps just a tired, hungry, and photogenic house pet!
[Portrait of a Seated Young Woman and Dog], Unknown, 1845 - 1847, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
1. This portrait simply portrays a woman and her dog. It seems to me that this dog provides a great deal of time being a lap dog, or merely the type of dog that likes to sit at your feet while your reading a good book.
2. This picture portrays both great contrast and value. The contrast in this image is shown varying in the angles of the woman's dress, as well as the darkened background. The value is highly displayed in the areas of the painting where the dress curves. You can see the gradients of light darken and brighten with the gradual curves of the dress.
The Prince of Wales's Phaeton, George Stubbs, 1793, From the collection of: Royal Collection Trust, UK
1. This painting looks as if it displays two men (obviously one is a prince as per the title of the piece) taking a brake from travel with their dog and horses. It looks as if this dog may be a breed that might keep the horses in line when they get too rambunctious, providing one less kind of stress on it's masters' journey.
2. The principle and element that make themselves apparent to me in this image are texture and color. The fine details of the dog's hair and the horses' glossy black coat make the image so much more real to me. It gives me clear indication of what they would feel like without guessing. This image also has very vibrant use of color that boldly stands out . I notice that the colors do not clash, are pleasing to my eyes, and highly suit the picture's realism.
Mark the Evangelist, Jan van Bijlert, From the collection of: The Kremer Collection
1. This picture displays a man possibly reading to his dog. This dog appears to be the type that sits next to you and always wants to give its master unconditional love and company.
2. I like that this painting really exaggerates the dog's alpha presence, almost making it 'bear like'. The use of color and value are striking in this image. The color has a very good balance to it, and all colors used are smooth on my eyes. The value of light colors is amazing, as the light shades dance of the open page of the book, and the crack and crannies in his over garment change color and value with the amount of light that is able to reach it.
Self-Portrait with His Father and His Brother, John Hamilton Mortimer, 1740–1779, British, early 1760s, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
1. This image of two men, their dogs, and a rifle suggests that they may be taking a day in the wilderness to hunt. Hunting dogs such as these provide not only easier gathering for the hunters (collecting of killed prey), but they also can provide a way to scare birds into the air so that it will be an easy and open shot for the rifle wielding masters.
2. This painting has ample contrast in the ways that the shadows, near and far, show the realism of the light and how it moves around the objects in the image. Additionally, proportion is an entity of this painting as objects in the distance seem to be to scale, and get smaller as the distance appears to grow. In this painting, these dogs may be taking an assistant role in their owners' hunting adventure by retrieving animals that have been shot.
Lorenzo Lotto, An Ecclesiastic in his Study, a drawing, 1491/1556, From the collection of: British Museum
1. This image is yet another of a reading session between an owner and its dog. This 'tea-cup' style breed is very popular even in today's society. You can tell by this image's clear proportional aspects that the tiny dog is no bigger than a small bowling ball. It certainly appears to be a fun loving lap dog that keeps the family or owner entertained.
2. I see the element of three-dimensional space used here, as the figures in the painting such as the background shelves, bed, and foreground chair/person are all within an appropriate distance from each other which my eye can detect. I do not see any principles of design that leap out at me in this piece. I do however notice a hint of abstractism in the lines of the figures in this piece, as they look a bit exaggerated or distorted, rather than extremely realistic.
An officer of the 4th Regiment of Foot, Thomas Gainsborough, (c. 1776-1780), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
1. This painting displays the extreme aid that service dogs provide to the military, in the past and today's society.
2. Proportion is used indefinitely in this image, as a clear sense of distance is displayed with the tiny ship in the background. Emphasis is also displayed, as the man and his dog are the main course in this image of historical eye candy.
One of the Family, Frederick George Cotman, 1880, From the collection of: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1. This painting definitely holds true to its title, as the dog truly is displayed as a family dog. It appears to be possibly sharing scraps of food with its loving owners.
2. This painting has great light value, and color. All colors are appropriately used with each other and do not form a displeasing tension when viewed upon. Additionally, the values of light are quite obvious as the fine detail of the clothing, table cloth, and utensils in this piece allow the light variations to hover and drape over them, creating such a fantastic realism that I feel as if I am sitting with this family and their dog at the table.
plaque, 1600/1600, From the collection of: British Museum
1. This plaque displays what appears to be a queen quite possibly viewing a deer hunt using what looks like greyhounds. As seen in another piece, the companionship of a hunter and his fellow dog has proved great help with the hunt ever since dogs were able to be domesticated.
2. This piece boast both saturation, and proportion. The colors in this piece are quite obvious, but the quality and density of each color is very rich and bold. The far off distance shows several greyhounds running, and with their tiny stature, this hints that they are a fair way into the distance. This promotes an undoubted use proportion in this piece.
Credits: All media
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