Immortalizing A Beloved Pet Through A Portrait

For generations, portraits of favorite dogs have held a special place in English drawing rooms. Today, as real dogs especially pedigreed ones stroll happily through the Central Park, their painted counterparts are hung against beautiful works in almost every single home in New York City. 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.

Englishmen are known to love their pet dogs immensely, even awarding these dogs a place in their hearts, as well as in family portraits. Pictures described as hunting, shooting and racing canine portraits always sell since 1961, when the auction house started the sale of these. A Newfoundland portrait, a dog of white and black coats was purchased by a sporting artist for record price from the prolific artist.

In the midst of 19th century and a few 18th century portraits, you are led to a different place in time. The sort of people who are buying them like to be associated with things that are not within their social range, like hunting and shooting with jackets and hounds and horses. An interior designer and antiques dealer opened a tiny shop in Manhattan as she believes that there are countless people today who are very much into dog portraits. In the shop, dog paintings, with a smattering of cow and horse pictures hang neatly on the blue and white covered walls.

Two kinds unfold in the subject of collectors. The first type on the list are people who want to get their hands on the painting as it is like the breed of what they have. The other type include people who are very knowledgeable and passionate about certain dog types and so they have to scrutinize the portrait and determine if canine's anatomy is depicted accurately there. At some times, people would like having dogs in portraits than those on leashes. Taking these dogs out for a walk or for a feast is no longer needed. Having bought his first two dog portraits in London, an interior designer and dog lover regretted it then believing it to be nonsensical but with it now becoming difficult to find collectors' items which are also expensive, he has changed his mind.

The decorator now has about 75 dog paintings, some hanging from taffeta bows in his Manhattan apartment. Similar to the fashions in some real dogs on a constant change, many thing that some dog breeds are more in demand than others, despite dealers stating that the painting quality and name of the artist dictate the price entirely. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the ones everyone always wants, but West Highland Terriers, Scotties and Cairns are particularly popular now. You will be able to immortalize a German shepherd through a painting.

It can be said that the years 1850 to 1920 was the time that dog paintings flourished in the market, states a dealer who sells dog portraits from his small one bedroom apartment in Manhattan, New York. He said he had many requests for king charles spaniels, Chinese shar peis and terriers. He has had around 10 demands for doberman pinscher paintings in the last year. It was only in the late 1880s when Dobermans were developed and there can be no good paintings of such a breed found and he shares he has never laid his eyes on a swell Doberman portrait.

This great artist gets to hold special sporting painting auctions from time to time. Bidders, most of them, have based their designs on the look of a renowned fashion designer while there are some with country houses and are into racing and hunting. A female advertising account executive at a major TV network, decided to buy a painting of a Spaniel after seeing a black and white photograph. As this lady waited for the day that she receives this painting straight from England, she got a matching ruby spaniel. When the dog finally arrived after three months of waiting it turned to be a King Charles black and tan breed so she got unmatched dogs and this was not how she expected it to be.