4-22-10 Boy of Hallett Family with Dog

While perusing fine art, and looking for art with dogs, I found this image in the art collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Take a look. . . What do you see? Boy of Hallett Family with Dog Unknown Artist American, 1766/1776 Where shall we begin? Well, what do you see that would suggest [...]

3-2-09 Study of a Dog

I couldn’t help but tune into this piece of artwork by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, depicting a retriever looking down and to the left (though its description says it’s looking to the right). I think it looks like a long lost relative of Abby Sunshine. What do you think? It was done at some point [...]

2-6-09 Portrait of James Ward

I love to walk around an art museum and discover the many works of art that include dogs in the imagery. Throughout time, dogs have apparently been a good friend. I guess they have that reputation for a reason. Let’s take a moment to look at this painting. What is the young boy thinking about? [...]

1-23-09 Giacomo Feeding a Dog

Over the past few months, I have watched  children interacting with Abby Sunshine in such a warm and delightful manner. One day I sketched this youngster offering Abby a treat while a friend watches attentively. Doesn’t this image conjure up positive feelings? Wouldn’t you say that the dog is bringing some merriment into the lives [...]

12-13-08 The Comtesse d’Egmont Pignatelli in Spanish Costume

I was planning to write about the importance of dental care and brushing your dog’s teeth when I was distracted by this quick snapshot taken of Abby and myself. We were simply lounging around home as we commonly do- I wearing my cozy frock and doing some light reading (while I take a momentary recess [...]

12-02-08 George Washington

On Friday, I will be leading an American Art Sampler tour at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. In preparing for this tour, I have discovered that George Washington appreciated sport dogs!  In fact, in this famous painting, Portrait of George Washington (1732–1799) by Thomas Sully, there is a small paperweight shaped like a dog. It is on [...]