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

George Goodwin Kilburne

So, I came across some of the artist's paintings and what I liked about them was that in many of them the dog looked like pretty consistently the same dog.  Was it his dog?  Did he just like the breed?  I'll show you some examples:











I like to think it was his dog and he just put him in as many paintings as possible.  These are just some I found.  There are lots of other pieces with the same dog.  But, there are also different dogs as well:








So many pictures.  I also love this one because I can almost hear the little dog yapping at the interloper:



I could post so many more.  But this is probably enough for one post!

George Goodwin Kilburne (1839-1924) was an English artist who did many illustrations of upper class British life.  Of course any artist who pays attention to the details of the dog is a favourite of mine and I have had a great time discovering his paintings.

I've loved many of his other paintings, some more with dogs and some without - no way to do this artist justice here but I wanted to keep a few highlights so I can remember to go back and learn more about him.

I would love to own one of his paintings one day.  Of course the only way that would happen would be if I come across one at a garage sale where the owner has no idea about art (you know, someone like me) so I can get it dirt cheap and run. (Would that be so wrong?)

The Gold Rush

Well, three posts in and I am breaking the rules.  This post has no art.  But it has dogs!  And history!  What caught my eye this time was photographs, specifically these pictures taken in the B.C. Gold Rush town of Barkerville (it's an historic site!  I want to visit there!)



So, this is an awesome image - I call it "the ghost dog one". 




Cattle drive time - this awesome dog is front and centre.



Love this one because of the fluffy white dog sitting happily up on the stoop of the Tin Shop.



Street scene in Barkerville - dog walking down the centre



Dog in the foreground, chilling on the boardwalk.

Now, the town was not called "Barkerville" after all the dogs (lol?) but rather after William Barker, who staked a huge claim and the town built up around it.  The town was founded in 1862, and is a National Historic Site of Canada today.  Another one to add to the bucket list.