Paw Prints in Art History~

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Paw Prints in Art History

Art has captured the soulful, beguiling and dynamic character of man’s best friend in its diverse incarnations, from protector to predator, dark force to deity. The dog has enjoyed the closest and most intriguing relationship with man so much so that for more than 5000 years, artists have created an extraordinary array of captivating images of the dog.

We understand upon exploration the various roles the dog has played in both art and society. These loving canines do double duty as loyal pets and creative muses. A dog depicts the symbol of fidelity and romantic love; as a prized possession, vaunting its owner’s power and wealth; as a loyal pet; as a mythological being, traveling between the lands of the living and the dead; as a religious image of purity, or dissolution; and as an indispensable working and hunting companion.

From war to art, across the spectrum of human endeavor and achievement, there often stands, not only at his side but also at leading the way, man's beloved "best friend."

Throughout the ages, artists have frequently depicted dogs as symbols of positive values such as courage, loyalty, and vigilance. Whether serving as guards, guides, companions, or hunters, dogs have a very strong presence in the great artworks.

They appear in the form of Mesopotamian statuettes of the third millennium BC; they flank peasants in Le Nain’s paintings, or sit loyally at the queen’s side in Rubens’s The Coronation.

They were portrayed as active, accompanying Diana the Huntress, or pampered, as cherished lap dogs nestled on cushions. Each painting or sculpture show in its entirety and in detail, to highlight the canine presence.

1889 Colour Print Yule Log India Children Ice Party Dog

Achenbach_Andreas_A_Hunter_and_His_Dog_In_A_Wooded_Landscape

Adriaen_van_Nieulandt_(II)_-_Diana_and_Her_Nymphs

Adriaen_van_Utrecht_001 Still life

Aelbert_Cuyp-The_Negro_Page

Alanhund Tres riches heures 1412

Aelbert_Cuyp_-_Meadow_with_Cows_and_Herdsmen

albrecht durer st jerome in his study

Albrecht Dürer. St Eustace, with hunting dogs

Albrecht Dürer--Knight Death and the Devil 1513

Albrecht Dürer--Knight Death and the Devil 1513

AMERLING, Friedrich von Countess Nákó 1855

AMIGONI, Jacopo Venus and Adonis c. 1740

An Dog. Guard Dog. Han Dynasty

CANALETTO- horses of San Marco

ANDREA DA FIRENZE- way of Salvation

Andrea Mantegna. Allegory of the Fall of Ignorant Humanity

Andrea_del_Sarto_-_Tobias_and_the_Angel_with_St_Leonard_and_Donor

ANGELICO, Fra- missal558 Glorificazione di S. Domenico

Angelo Caroselli- a_lady_with_her_dog_an_allegory

Annibale Carracci. Head of a dog in profile to left

Anonymous. Tobias and the angel taking leave of Tobit

Antonio_Allegri,_called_Correggio_-_The_Abduction_of_Ganymede

Antonio_Tempesta_-_Jupiter_and_Callisto

Antonio Mancini-portrait_of_elizabeth_and_charles_williamson

ARCIMBOLDO, Giuseppe- Composition with Animals

Argos, dog of Odysseus

Auguste Renoir (French, 1841–1919) Madame Georges Charpentier (née Marguérite-Louise Lemonnier and Her Children

Bartolomeo_Montagna_-_St_Peter_Blessing_and_Donor

Bartolomeo_Passerotti_-_Portrait_of_a_Man_with_a_Dog

BASSANO, Jacopo the last supper (detail)

BASSEN, Bartholomeus van-Renaissance Interior with Banqueters

Jan Steen Dutch, about 1665 - 1670- Bathsheba After the Bath

BAYEU Y SUBIAS, Ramón The Blind Singer c. 1786

Medici Aesop- The dog and the beast

Benno Adam-dogs_and_whelps

BERNINI, Gian Lorenzo- rape of Proserpina

BLEKER, Gerrit Claesz-stag hunt

Frans Snyders (Flemish, 1579–1657)about 1625–30Oil on canvas, Boar Hunt Gift of John Templeman Coolidge, Jr.Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

BOILLY, Louis Léopold- departure of Conscripts.

BOSCH, Hieronymus The Seven Deadly Sins (detail)

BOSCH, Hieronymus the-marriage-feast-at-cana

BOSCH, Hieronymus Triptych of Haywain outer wings

BOSCH, Hieronymus- wayfarer

Botticelli, Sandro (Italian), The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti (II)

Botticelli, Sandro (Italian),The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti (third episode)

Botticelli, Sandro (Italian)-The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti (I)

BOTTICELLI, Sandro- 3miracles st.zenobius

Briton Riviere- fidelity 1869

Brueghel-jan-the-elder the-vision-of-st-hubert

BUGIARDINI, Giuliano- scenesTobias 1

BUGIARDINI, Giuliano-scenesTobias 2

Caesar van Everdingen- Lycurgus Demonstrates the Benefits of Education

Caesar_van_Everdingen_-_Jupiter_and_Callisto

CANALETTO-san-marco-the-interior

CANALETTO-Santi Giovanni e Paolo

CANO, Alonso-saint-isidore-the-farmer

CARDINAL ALESSANDRO LANTE DELLA ROVERE'S DOG, Italian School Date Circa 1816-Circa 1818

CARLEVARIS, Luca-Venice A View of the Molo

Carlo Grubacs- a_view_of_the_doges_palace

CARNEVALE, Fra The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (detail).

CARNEVALE, Fra The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple

CARPACCIO, Vittore Two Venetian Ladies c. 1510

CARPACCIO, Vittore- vision 1

CARRACCI, Agostino- Hairy Harry, Mad Peter and Tiny Amon

CARVELARIS LUCA- Reception of Cardinal César d'Estrées (detail)

Cavaliere_d'Arpino (Giuseppe Cesari)_-_Diana_and_Actaeon

Bosse, Abraham, French, 1604–1676- Ce Berger me ravit avec sa cornemuse

Cecilia Beaux- lane-lovell-and-his-dog

CELLINI, Benvenuto- Sakuki Greyhound

Cellini, Benvenuto--Nymph-of-Fontainebleau-3

Curtiss, Marion- Ceramic Dog Rendered c. 1936

Cesari,_Giuseppe_-_Diana_and_Actaeon_-_1603-1606

Charles Burton Barber - My First Partner

Charles Burton Barber (British, 1845-1894) «Once bit, twice shy» 1885

Charles Burton Barber - Blond and Brunette

Charles Burton Barber - Girl with Dogs

Charles Burton Barber - In Disgrace

Charles Burton Barber - Not Much Wrong

Charles Burton Barber - Suspense

Charles Burton Barber - Sweethearts

Charles Burton Barber - The Broken String

Charles Burton Barber - the new keeper

Charles Burton Barber - The New Whip

Charles Burton Barber The Two Invalids.

Charles Burton Barber- the hiding place