Throughout history, dogs have been portrayed as man’s best friend in numerous stories, books, songs, and artworks. These four-legged pups have always been dear to us. Besides their loyalty and companionship, dogs have long been artists’ inspiration for paintings and other art forms.
A loyal companionship between dogs and humans is not new. We can see illustrations of dogs in caves and old tombs depicting the magnificent relationship between man and pup. Even the most remarkable artists like Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo couldn’t resist the charm of dogs.
If you love puppies like we do and want to add dog painting to your home, we have compiled a list of five famous dog paintings that every dog lover must behold.
Dogs Playing Poker by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge
Regarding dog paintings, ‘dogs playing poker’ by C.M Coolidge is the most famous. This painting series is an iconic and most significant artwork of Coolidge.
It is essential to know that Dogs Playing Poker is not the name of just one painting. Instead, it is the name for the series of 18 consecutive dog paintings by the American painter Cassius Marcellus Coolidge. This series was commissioned by a publishing company called Brown and Bigelow in 1903 to advertise cigars.
All the 18 paintings portray humorous, humanized dogs in several humanistic scenarios like smoking cigars, drinking beer, going on a road trip, and playing games like poker, football, and baseball. However, of these 18 paintings, only eleven depict poker-faced dogs playing cards around the table.
The Dogs Playing Poker series has become the most famous artwork through its use in popular culture. Since their creation, these paintings have appeared in countless art magazines, books, films, tv shows, and art exhibitions. One painting from the series named “A Friend in Need” is arguably one of the most recognizable and famous dog paintings ever.
A Hunting Morn by Heywood Hardy
A Hunting Morn by Heywood Hardy is an accurate nostalgic depiction of the Victorian era’s upper-class lifestyle. Heywood Hardy’s painting takes us to the good old days of England, portraying the scene of the future morning hunt.
The marvelous oil painting depicts a beautiful young woman waiting to depart for the morning hunt while teetering upon her steed. She is wearing a long dark blue dress and a feather hat. It feels like she is not going for an extreme hunt but a pleasant morning ride.
The painting shows one servant holding the horse in position, and two cops are nearby and ready to serve her. In addition, two hounds are standing nearby her horse to go on a hunt with her. The whole scenario predicts she is a member of a wealthy aristocratic family.
Heywood Hardy is best known for his conservative style portraits and for using soft petal colors in his art. A Hunting Morn is a brilliant demonstration of his artistic abilities.
Alfred Berard and His Dog by Pierre Auguste Renoir
Pierre Auguste Renoir painted this portrait for his patron, Paul Berard, during a visit to later’s house in 1881. Paul Berard was an affluent diplomat and banker of his time. Renoir made many paintings for the Berard family during his artistic care.
‘Alfred Berard and His Dog’ is a remarkable oil painting by Renoir having natural light and saturated colors. The artist portrays a young man with his white dog standing in the woods. The man is leaning casually on the tree, holding his hunting gun in his hands, as he has just returned from a successful hunt.
Pierre Auguste Renoir practiced the impressionist painting style during his career’s early years. The artist was well known for his paintings of human or animal figures. This famous art with dogs best depicts his artistic abilities as an impressionist artist.
Another impressionist artist who was a dog lover and created many dog paintings is Mary Cassatt. Read out to learn about famous dog paintings by Mary Cassatt.
The Dog by Francisco de Goya
Francisco de Goya produced his famous “Black Paintings” while residing in a house called “Quinta del Sordo,” which means the Villa of the Deaf. The Black Paintings is a group of fourteen different paintings he made during the last years of his life.
This portrait shows a half-submerged dog gazing upwards and is lost in the vastness of the picture. The dog appears trapped between the brownish-muddy strip of earth and a yellowish sky. The dog is balefully looking at the sky and waiting for help that seems like it will never arrive.
‘The Dog’ is the most haunting painting from the series of black paintings. This painting depicts fear, pain, and hopelessness. The ‘Black Paintings’ is Goya’s dark, moody, and atmospheric work that became the reason for his fame and success as an artist.
Hunting Dogs by Edmund Henry Osthaus
Edmund Henry was born in 1858 in Hildesheim, Germany. Henry went on to attend the classes at the ‘Royal Academy of Arts’ to learn about painting. He was influenced by several well-known artists of his time, who taught him various painting styles and techniques.
Edmund Henry is famous for his dog paintings showing hunting dogs and hunting scenes. His painting “Hunting Dogs” portrays a scene of three dogs standing vigilantly and waiting for the hunt. The three dogs are perfectly painted, showing their hunting nature. The portrait is so detailed that it seems like every dog has its distinctive personality.
Edmund Henry was both an artist and a sportsman. He was fond of dogs and birds. Most of his artistic work is related to dogs and especially hunting dogs. He is arguably the most famous artist for dog paintings.
Conclusion
Dogs have always been a crucial part of art, whether painting, sculpture or other art forms. Our four-legged canine friends significantly impact art history, and dog paintings have a great significance in the world of arts.
