The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.
Craigie Aitchison’s Hot Hound
Craigie Aitchison is a Scottish painter. After studying Law Aitchison attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London (1952–4). His work is characterized by the use of intense, pure colour to describe shape and form in extremely spare compositions.
Is the animal in this painting a hound or a horse?
Read on…
Posted 28 Jun 08
Dog Breeds: The Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is one of the oldest breeds in existence, and is considered by many to be the stock from which most modern large working breeds have developed. There is little recorded about the genetic heritage of the Tibetan Mastiff, and much of their history is described only in legend. How noble!
It is believed that these dogs remained isolated on the high plateaus and valleys of the Himalayas, developing into the magnificent animal that has been highly prized by the people of Tibet throughout history and right up to today.
The Tibetan Mastiff is a regal beast, and has a powerful, muscled body but a kindly appearance. The breed has been used primarily as a family and property guardian for millenia. He tends to be an aloof type of dog, who is watchful of strangers and protective of his two-leggeds and their joint property.
Read on…
Posted 18 Jun 08
Attractive Portrait of a Dog
Adolphe Monticelli (1824-1886) probably executed this attractive and strikingly modern portrait of two women with a dog between 1870-90.
Notice how the dog is the focus of the painting: both women are looking down towards him. Here the dog is the focus of the portrait.
In swift and confident brushstrokes two women are seen standing with a dog in what seems to be a park setting. The paint is richly applied, and has the quality of embroidery - it is dimensional and warm.
Read on…
Posted 16 Jun 08
Horticultural Hound: The Dangers of Snail Bait
If your two-legged beloved is as keen on gardening as mine is, you’ll know that snails are the bane of the dedicated gardener. Especially in wet areas such as England. But much as they may be tempted to put down poison to control the shell-encased slugs of garden destruction, it’s best that they don’t.
You may want to tell your two-legged that snail bait is toxic and can be fatal to dogs. The active ingredient of snail bait is usually 1 per cent iron phosphate. Now iron phosphate is relatively safe for dogs, but it can still be toxic to canines if they ingest enough of the stuff.
Read on…
Posted 13 Jun 08
William Robert Spencer: Llewellyn and His Dog
This poem by William Robert Spencer tells the tragic tale of a Welshman’s noble hound. The tale is much the same as the story of Saint Guinefort, a sainted French greyhound – previously reported on by yours truly in my ’sainted dogs’ phase.
Spencer’s poem was published as part of a children’s literature compilition entitled ‘Childhood’s Favorites and Fairy Stories, originally published as a series in the 1920s — now published on-line by the Gutenberg Project.
The spearmen heard the bugle sound,
And cheer’ly smiled the morn;
And many a brach, and many a hound,
Attend Llewellyn’s horn.
And still he blew a louder blast,
And gave a louder cheer;
“Come, Gelert! why art thou the last
Llewellyn’s horn to hear?
“Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam,
The flower of all his race?
So true, so brave—a lamb at home,
A lion in the chase.”
Read on…
Posted 11 Jun 08
Jean-Léon Gérôme’s Hounds
Jean-Léon Gérôme’s The Negro Master of the Hounds is a truly handsome painting - of hounds and human alike.
Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824 – 1904) was a French painter and sculptor who resisted the counter-revolutionary movements of Impressionism, choosing instead to continue to develop and conserve the style of French neo-classicism. He produced many works in a historical, Orientalist style, and is said to have brought the French Empire tradition to an artistic climax.
Today his work is probably remembered most in ‘art cards’ — featuring such iconic images as Pygmalion and Galatea. Perhaps this is because of the ‘orientalism’ of his work. Which really says more about today’s sensitivities than it does about his own time. Woof! And it’s worth recalling that his painting touched on many areas that are ’sore’ or ‘touchy’ today — such as the slave trade, including a striking image of women being auctioned off at a ‘harem market.’
Read on…
Posted 04 Jun 08
Happy June Awoof!
Happy June one and all! May the sunny days be plentiful, and may the rainy days bring brightly coloured rainbows!
SuperWoof!
Archie
Posted 03 Jun 08
Dog Signs: Be Careful…
A good sign, from one trusty dog to another.
Awoof! Archie
Posted 30 May 08
I don’t like rain
As you are most likely aware, I don’t much like the rain, and am even willing to forgo a constitutional walk or two to avoid getting drenched in the rain. Maybe it’s ’cause my legs are so short. Maybe it’s ’cause my belly gets wet.
Posted 26 May 08
Health Hound: Beware of Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in candy and chewing gum. It can also be found in other products such as chewable vitamins, throat lozenges and oral health products. Obviously Xylitol — a sugar alcohol — is safe for two-leggeds, but it can be DEADLY for dogs. Woooo!
When Xylitol is ingested by dogs it can cause a dangerous surge of insulin. In as little as a quarter of an hour after a dog has eaten gum containing Xylitol the dog may ahve a marked drop in blood sugar. In higher doses, it is believed that Xylitol is toxic to the canine liver. To put in perspective: just 3 grams of Xylitoal can kill a 65 pound dog. Woof!
Read on…
Posted 19 May 08
Hogarth’s Pugs
William Hogarth is often hailed as the quintessentially English artist of the eighteenth century.
Hogarth had the ability and the stamina to challenge the status quo of art’s exclusive link to ’society’. He portrayed not only the toffs but their hangers-on, retainers and servants, tradesmen and workmen, pimps and whores, beggars and destitute.
An engraver, he saw that prints of his paintings would be more affordable across a wide social range. Indeed, they sold well throughout Britain and the colonies. It is fair to guess that by the middle of the century most literate Virginians would at least have recognized his name.
Posted 17 May 08
©2008 Roleta Archibald, Awoof!™