Our Sweet and Crazy Coonhound ...

Our Sweet and Crazy Coonhound ...
Run Free: birthdate unknown - Oct. 17 2008

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Portrait for the Estate

Painters have included dogs on their canvases for centuries. Last year's Best in Show: the Dog in Art from The Renaissance to Today at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston attempted to "explore the use of dog imagery to illustrate major cultural and social concerns in Western culture." [NOTE: click on VIEW THE SHOW, it is great fun!]

Animal portraiture was becoming increasingly popular by the beginning of the 18th Century. British animal portraiture reached great heights through the anatomically detailed works of George Stubbs, the naturalism of Thomas Grainsborough, and the romanticism of Sir Edwin Landseer. In the colonial United States, travelling portrait painters, like Amni Phillips, were paid by wealthy families to portray their dogs partaking in everyday life.



We photograph our dogs, collect breed-specific auto decals, mugs, afghans and more. We blog about our dogs. The ultimate expression of how much our dogs mean to us can be captured in custom portraiture, as it has been done for centuries. This lush portrait, RAINEY, is an incredible work of art created by Sherrie Rose (srosepaints@yahoo.com). She works from photographs and creates manor-worthy pieces in an old-world style. RAINEY is acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48" unframed.


10 comments:

Patience-please said...

We love canine art! Thanks for the link!

Deetz said...

I am going to go and check out that art work. That is wonderful stuff.
I wish we could play together. You look like alot of fun
Deetzy

Anonymous said...

Oooo! Do you think she could catch my wrinkles?

River said...

That is a beautiful portrait! My mom has about 5 Stubbs prints-one she loves of a white horse just touching noses with a hound. All with beautiful frames. Our house is decorated in HOUND decor with burgundy, forest green and cream. That portrait would fit right in! Just think what Booker would looke like in that style!

love & wags,
River

Gussie said...

Love that greyhound. Wow.

Kathryn and Ari said...

Great post! There are some 18th-century dogs hanging in the Boston Art Museum: we giggle at them because they are all wearing nightgowns for some reason.

PS- You asked about Ari's roaming opportunities. She is definitely a leashed dog: she thinks she's a coyote and thinks it's HILARIOUS when we can't catch her. We respectfully disagree.

Kess And Her Mama said...

The conclusion is this - Dogs are an inspiration!

Charity, Katie, Louie & Natalie said...

Booker is much more handsome than the dog depicted on your blog. Katie thinks he should have his portrait done.

KEY WEST COLLIES said...

Where is your potrait? Keep up the good work.

Essex & Deacon

Molly the Airedale said...

We love doggie art! We're going to go check out the link!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch