Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck

That's this:



Painted in 1434 this is a portrait of a wealthy couple of the time.  Some scholars say it might be a wedding portrait, some say they are already married.  Some believe she is pregnant, others believe she is not.  It's an interesting read if you want to look it up.  I just think it's beautiful though. 

My third favourtie thing about this portrait is the colours.  Everything seems rich, vibrant and textured.

My second favourite thing about this portrait is the mirror on the back wall.  To have a mirror where you can actually see what's reflected in the rest of the room is pretty brilliant. 

My number one favourite thing about this portrait is the shoes on the floor. Gotcha!  Yes, my favourite thing is the dog!  Partially, I love this dog because he reminds me so much of a special Affenpinscher I dearly loved (Hi Riley).  I also love how the dog is looking directly into the eyes of the viewer - curious, alert and allied with his owners. 

Some sources (Wikipedia) say the dog could have simply been included there as a "symbol" of fidelity and loyalty.  Sure, some things might just be symbolic, but I prefer the theory that it is just their dog, and he was there watching (as dogs always are), and the artist decided to immortalize him. 

584 years ago, in the home of a wealthy merchant in Belgium, with the Renaissance world hustling and bustling outside the window, as history was unfolding, there just stood a little dog wondering what was going on inside his house.  (And, probably, when the heck they were gonna give him some supper).

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great: Princess of Anhalt Zerbst , Empress of All Russia, and Lover of Greyhounds

Catherine the Great with her favourite Greyhound, Zemira

I became aware of this portrait because of my youngest son.  I don't want to mention his real name on the blog, but since I am a huge Star Wars fan, I will call him "Luke".  "Luke" told me to look it up after he saw it during one of his high school classes, and I was happy he thought of me.  

Catherine's reign was from 1762-1796 and Russia grew, thrived, and modernized during this time.  She loved Italian Greyhounds and kept many as companions throughout her reign.  When this portrait was painted in 1794 she requested the artist (Borovikovsky) paint her doing what she loved most: walking in the park with Zemira.  

Zemira was greatly loved in life and greatly mourned in death.  Unfortunately, Catherine's cemetary with Zemira's large tombstone (engraved "Beloved Dog of the Great Queen") no longer remains, but there is a life-sized porcelain figure of her still on display at Peterhof Palace ("The Russian Versaille") in St. Petersburg.  

This is what it looks like:

If I ever make it to Russia, Catherine the Great and her Greyhounds will be on my mind.   And if I ever have a Greyhound, I will probably name her Zemira. 

Our dogs love us whether we are a cashier, a farmer, a bank teller, or the Empress of Russia.  Let's always show them the same love and loyalty in return. 

Thanks "Luke"!  

William Logsdail

I have been away from the blog for a while (Anyone notice?  No?  Bueller?).  Anyway I blame Monty. (See post below).

I was browsing some Victorian paintings and I came across this one (and here I would normally insert a colon, but have yet to find it on my husband's new bargain keyboard, and I would have put bargain in quotation marks but I can't find them either)

St Martin in the Fields, 1888

According to my usual sources, William Logsdail went to London in the winter of 1888 hoping to catch a snow scene of Trafalgar Square.  Finding no snow but only rain and sleet, he painted it anyway.  By the way, St. Martin in the Fields is the name of the church.  I think this painting is stunning for its colouring, I also like how clearly and strikingly the dog was portrayed.  Love the sense of motion of the walk and the movement of tail...and the dog seems friendly and curious about what the artist is up to.   I like the feeling that Mr. Logsdail spent as much time observing and detailing the dog as he did everything else.

I mean yeah, the backdrop is stunning, the lady's red dress is gorgeous and the little girl with the flowers is so beautifully done...but the dog!  Come on! I want that dog.

Also (colon)

The Ninth of November 1888

This is another one that shows the same stunning attention to colour.  Such detail to the uniforms and buildings and small details of real life like the little boy reaching into the street, and of course, the dog checking everything out.

I like Mr. Logsdail.

Monty

I couldn't let February go by without introducing the new family member we got last week:  Here is our new puppy!  His name is either Montclair or The Count of Monte Christo, depending on who you ask.  But either way, he isn't pretentious so he goes by Monty.

Monty Meets the Couch

Monty Meets the Cat

Monty Meets Snow

Now Monty Needs a Nap

There was supposed to be a "Monty meets our Crazy Dog" photo.  But it's been hard to get a non-blurry picture since there is always lots of fighting & wrestling & chasing going on.  In a good way. When I get one I like I will add it in. 

Welcome to the family, sweet little Monty!

The Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee

We're going Biblical!  A few years back during a trip to France, I visited the Palace Of Versailles.  In July.  Yes, it was packed.  But worth it.  I remember the Hall of Mirrors, the beautiful grounds, and many of the paintings.

This one I especially remember - The Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, by Paolo Veronese in 1570:



The painting depicted Jesus invited to a meal at the house of Simon.  And what kind of a feast would it be without dogs hanging around?  A boring one, that's what. A boring one. Veronese included two dogs, one toward the left at the front of the table,and one at the far right at the end of the table.

In looking up this painting, I found that it is not the only representation of the feast.  And the awesome thing?  The others included dogs as well.  This interpretation by Bernardo Strozzi painted in 1630:



Also two dogs, one on the far left and one on the far right.

And another version, painted by Pierre Subleyras in 1737:



Three paintings of the event from three different artists, in three different centuries, and all included dogs.  I don't know why this makes me happy but it does. 

So, Jesus allowed dogs to be present at his meals. Jesus was a dog lover.  Historical fact. 

L.S. Lowry / Matchstick Men

Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887 - 1976) did several paintings nicknamed "Matchstick Men" paintings.  Some of the images are below.  He painted an industrial northern English landscape, bleak, dark and hopeless (to me).  But!  He incorporated dogs into his scenes of street life which makes them happy happy (to me).  Some examples below:



I like the 4 dogs visible around the main square - one of which is trying to jump up and play with another.  (Or attack.  But I say play).

One on a leash, one roaming free. 



At least 3 in the foreground, probably countless more back there with the masses.



At least four in that one.

There are many others in this same style, depicting the working classes at work and play with the industrial landscape as backdrop. 

I enjoy this style.  So many details to discover.  He did other styles of art as well, but, I like finding the "Matchstick Dogs" in his work so, I'll stick with those.  My tastes are simple.

Merry Christmas

Painting by Marcello Corti