We have all heard about the “Dog Days“ of summer — hot and muggy days with no breeze for relief. But did you know that the term has origins that reach back to the Roman Empire? The Romans called this early August period
dies caniculares, which meant “dog star days” after Sirius, the Dog Star.
In honor of the Dog Days this summer, I share with you a selection of our canine friends in art.
Canvas Dog
Circa 1930.
Canvas applied on wood frame and polychrome.
Found in New Jersey.
32.5" h x 39" long x 10" wide
Cast Iron Dog
Late 19th century
Unknown artist
Iron and original polychrome.
Half mold of standing bird dog.
Custom metal base.
38"l x 12'w x 33"h
Important Trade Sign Carving of Greyhound
circa 1920
American
Pine and polychrome.
From the estate of Lincoln Kerstein.
14 1/2" height
47 1/2" length
Carved Black Poodle
20th century.
Anonymous.
Carved oak with enamel.
Base is painted slate blue, red and white stripes.
Ex-Mendelsohn Collection.
27" x 7.5" x 27"h
Leather Dachshund Ottoman
c. 1940
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Vintage leather footstool.
17” h x 9” w x 33.5” nose to tail
Reclining Dog Carving
Mid-19th century
Slate carving of a reclining dog on platform.
11"l x 7"w x 6"h
A Pair of Scotty Lamps
20th Century
Wood with red stain and varnish
Tails switch lamps on and off
12” w x 22” h x 16” diameter
UNTITLED (Dog)
Bill Traylor (c. 1854–1949)
Montgomery, Alabama
1939–1942
Pencil, crayon, and poster paint on cardboard
18 1/4 x 26 1/2 in.
American Folk Art Museum, gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill Jr., 1990.1.1
DOG ARCADE TARGET
Painted sheet iron St. Bernard dog with target circle when hit triggered the dog to flip over. Nice original paint.
c.1920-40s
8.75 x 12 inches
CAST IRON HOUNDS PANEL
Cast iron panel with 3 bloodhound heads in high relief. Old painted surface with minor paint loss. The three Amigos of bloodhounds late 19th c. c. Unknown maker.
14 x 30 x 2 inches
PORTRAIT OF PATSY
Painting of a soulful dog Patsy signed Gretchen. acrylic on canvas board, framed 15 x 19
12 x 16 inches
BULLDOG WEATHERVANE
Sheet iron weathervane in the form of a prized dog. Surface with oxidation and remains of silver paint made golden by rust. Mounted over metal base.
15 x 12 inches
Artist: Jimmy Lee Sudduth
Toto the Dog
House paint, clay, on plywood panel
48 x 24 inches
Artist: Richard Jackson
“Bad Dog” sculpture
Orange County Museum of Art
Realistic Victorian Painting of a Landseer Newfoundland Dog
F. Wichert (Painter)
Germany, 1880
Recumbent Dog Hooked Rug
c. 1890
wool
40” x 30.5”
19th century English silk and woolwork
portrait of a dog in three quarter profile
in a bird's eye maple frame
circa 1840
Image © Elliott Erwitt, photographer
Paris, 1989
Jamie Williams, photographer
Image © Jamie Williams
2012
Allen McCollum
The Dog From Pompeii, 1991
Polymer modified hydrocal 20 x 20 x 21 in. / 50.8 x 50.8 x 53.3 cm.This article was originally published in August, 2013.