Dawn Hoskin Furniture, Textiles & Fashion August 26, 2014
Given the attention I gave to ‘Museum Cat Day’ last month, I felt that it was necessary for me to even up the feline – canine representation on the blog as today is World Dog Day. The day’s title doesn’t include the word ‘museum’, I’ll grant you, but I do still have quite the pack of historic dogs from across Europe who I think are worth a mention.
This dog proudly stands on the top of a 17th century clear glass beaker which has been wheel- engraved with the inscription “Vita quid est homnis” (What is the life of man?). The dog bears an engraved monogram ‘I.A.V.’ and the year ‘1656’ on its collar. This date is slightly earlier than the date of the glass and its engraving so it is likely that the dog was originally made for another object (perhaps as a pendant) and later re-used as a finial on this beaker. V&A 242-1872
Dogs were very much present in the lives of people at all levels of society during the 17th and 18th century and they will also be very much present in the Europe Galleries. Their roles could be as invaluable working dogs used for hunting and other activities or as pets and companions (a role perhaps of equal if not more importance to some owners!).
This 17th century oil painting ‘Landscape with Sportsmen Shooting’, in the style of Frederick de Moucheron and Adriaen van de Velde, shows the men accompanied by very attentive dogs who would have retrieved their kills. V&A 1378-1869
Rudolph II, Emperor of Germany, standing proudly with one of his dogs in this wax relief portrait by Wenzel Maler, Germany (Nuremberg), dated 1606. V&A 1208-1864
The relationship between people and domesticated animals during this period is one that I am personally rather fascinated with and so will doubtless return to the topic in more depth in the future. For today though I’ll give you a quick introduction to some of my favourite canines that will be joining us in the new galleries.
In this small wax relief, Daniel Kellerthaler shows two year old Kurfürstlich Fräulein, Sophia Eleonore of Saxony, with a bird perched on a plate of fruit and a small, rather shy seeming, dog looking up at her. V&A A.42-1978I think that this dog looks rather disgruntled in the midst of all the merrymaking going on in Jan Miense Molenaer’s oil painting, Positioned just off-centre at the bottom of the scene, the dog and the white tablecloth above it really draw your gaze into the scene. V&A 536-1870There are lots of dogs to be found causing mischief – such as this small dog running away with someones red slipper in this late 17th century French oil painting. V&A P.25-1976The small dog in this tapestry designed by Charles Le Brun is happily ‘investigating’ a large pot of flowers, seemingly encouraged by the parrot behind. V&A T.371-1977This lap-dog (with it’s coat clipped to resemble a lion!) seems intent on disrupting a couple’s intimate moment in Crispijn van de Passe II’s engraving of the’ Feast in the House of the Rich Man’. V&A E.345-2003Pug dogs had been introduced into Europe from China in the late seventeenth century. They were popular in German court circles because of their loyalty, trustworthiness and steadiness, and were the favourite breed of Count Bruhl, the most powerful man in Saxony and director of the Meissen porcelain factory. This porcelain cane handle was made by the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany, sometime between 1736-1740. V&A C.1016-1919Here we have another porcelain cane handle – this time moulded on one side with a grotesque bearded mask and on the other with the head of a mastiff. Two-faced handles featuring animal heads were produced by several European factories. This one was possibly made in Italy ca. 1760. V&A C.66-1956I’ll leave you with this interesting combo of two dogs, both carved in boxwood around 1650. The first is part of an ‘Allegory of Sickness’ – the poor unhappy, vomiting and excreting dog at the man’s feet allegorises the expulsion of sickness. In contrast an extremely healthy looking whippet stands alongside the goddess Diana depicted as a huntress. V&A A.3-1956 and A.1-1922
I must look for these when I’m allowed back into the V&A. My favourite V&A dog has to be the lovely hound that accompanies the Goddess Diana in the cafe.
How interesting- I love those wax reliefs. Humans and dogs have an extraordinary relationship and it’s clear that this has been the case for many many years.
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I must look for these when I’m allowed back into the V&A. My favourite V&A dog has to be the lovely hound that accompanies the Goddess Diana in the cafe.
How interesting- I love those wax reliefs. Humans and dogs have an extraordinary relationship and it’s clear that this has been the case for many many years.