Over the centuries, dogs have done a lot more in art than just play poker. More than 7,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers carved leashed dogs into the side of a cliff. Pups are prominently featured in paintings by iconic artists including Lavinia Fontana, Titian, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and John Singer Sargent.
And dogs have a long history as an artist's best friend: Consider William Wegman's Weimaraners, Lucian Freud's whippets, or Georgia O'Keeffe's chows. Dachshunds seem to be the most popular breed among celebrated artists-Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol all had them. (Theirs were named Lump, Stanley, and Archie, respectively.)
A new exhibition at Timothy Taylor in New York, Dog Days of Summer, brings together works by dozens of artists depicting our furry friends as ever-faithful companions, studio mates, and muses. (Dogs are welcome at the gallery, and treats will be handed out at the reception desk.)
