Why The City Of New York Ventures Into Dog Paintings

Many generations have passed but portraits of favorite dogs have been honored in the sturdy walls of many an English drawing room. But this time, we get to see the paintings of the pedigreed pets hung usually in New York living room walls while their real life counterparts are sighted strolling through the paths of Central Park and other places. Beribboned dogs, ones with leather collars, dogs at play or dogs at rest all depicted in a portrait have become so in demand and these are all attributed to the growing popularity of English style interior, coupled with man’s longstanding devotion to his best friend, the dogs.

Dogs are loved so much by Englishmen, and they are kept close to his heart, enabling the pooch to have a place during portraits of the family. Those he described as hunting, racing, shooting and doggy pictures have sold increasingly well since the auction house started to sell sporting paintings in 1961. A portrait showcasing a Newfoundland which was a white and black dog was sold by the prolific painter for a record breaking price to a man who was so much into art pieces with sporting orientations.

In the midst of 19th century and a few 18th century portraits, you are led to a different place in time. It is the people who aim to go to activities beyond their social range like hunting, or perhaps shooting with jackets, hounds and horses that are known to be fond clients of such portraits. In fact, a certain interior designer and antiques dealer believes that there are so many lovers of dog paintings around that she has opened a tiny shop in the Manhattan. And this place neatly showcases dog paintings on its blue and white walls with a few ones of cows and horses.

Art collectors have two kinds. The first would be those who wants to get the painting to complement its real life counterpart. Second on the classification scheme are people who desire to know whether the painting is anatomically correct as they know the breed very well. These portraits are sometimes good enough substitutes for real life dogs that bark and walk. Taking these dogs out for a walk or for a feast is no longer needed. A man who was both into interior decoration and dogs retells how he thought that he was being silly as he bought his first two dog portraits back when he was in London, but now his opinion has changed for this has become a very expensive and in demand trend.

Now, he has a proud array of these canine dogs some hanging in taffeta bows at his Manhattan homes all 75 of these masterpieces. Dealers and art specialists emphasize that the painting’s quality along with the name of the artist set the price, but then many would still aver that some kinds of dogs are simply more in demand than some other types as in the changes of fashions in real dogs. Many dog art collectors only wanted Cavalier King Charles Spaniel paintings then but now, West Highland Terriers, Scotties and Cairn paintings are also being very sought after. By way of a portrait, a German shepherd can stay with you.

The years 1850 to 1920 saw the heyday of dog painting trading, shares a dealer residing in a Manhattan bedroom apartment, living on selling dog paintings. At some point, he got bombarded with so many inquiries from people looking for pictures of Chinese shar peis, King Charles spaniels as well as adorable terrier dogs. He shares that he had encountered in the past year about 10 requests for a portrait with a doberman pinscher in it. Dobermans, having been developed only in the late 1880s are a recent breed so no paintings of them can be found, he shares when asked if he has ever held an exceptional painting of a Doberman.

Once in a while this artist holds special sporting painting auctions. Many of those bidding in the auction have decorated according to a famous fashion designer’s look, and then some stay in countryside houses capable of hunting and racing. A lady that works for a major TV station as an advertising account executive decided to go buy a painting of a Spaniel after getting mesmerized by a photograph which was in black and white. To match the painting, she spent her waiting time by buying an actual spaniel, with a ruby red coat. Three months passed and she got her portrait but such did not match with her real dog for it turned out to be a King Charles breed that was black and tan so she got an unmatched canine pair.