There is one constant in the art of the portrait. Pets can bring out a response that is almost predictable whereas humans don’t always measure up. It’s the emotional test, the “awwww” test. It’s the one that moves sometimes the least likely personality, he tough guy, in the room. Old Yeller can do it when Little Edgar can’t.
How would you calculate the psychology that we non animals face when we are reminded of the innocence of other creatures that can only express through their eyes or a paw in our lap. And how do we artists convey that to picture form without being quaint.
What a joy it is to express freedom when it works.
There is a huge difference in pet portraits, and animals used as figure studies. Like horses in a race. And sometimes there are paintings that are so noble as to not fit in any category. Two examples shown are by Sir Edwin Landseer, Queen Victoria’s favorite painter. Here, these masterpieces offer an insight into the love of nature and what they represent…although one is specifically about Bob, a Newfoundland, who was a true life hero. From Wikipedia:
The dog in the painting is meant to be “Bob”, a dog that was found in a shipwreck off the coast of England. The dog found his way to the London waterfront where he became known for saving people from drowning, a total of twenty–three times over the course of fourteen years. For this, he was made a distinguished member of the Royal Humane Society, granting him a medal and access to food.[1]