'Table D'Hote at Dogs' Home' by John Charles Dollman (1851-1934)
Oil on canvas 75cm x 129cm. 1879
Dollman's highly popular painting was created to appeal to the general
public, depicting a scene which is sentimental and humorous. It shows
a pack of dogs of various breeds, gathered around a trough, with more
appearing through the open door.
Before the 19th-century cats and dogs had featured in paintings but rarely as
the main subjects. This painting is typical of those later works that
deliberately tried to appeal to the public's emotional side. Painters like
Landseer and Dollman succeeded in shifting the public's perception of animals
from simply beasts to beings with thoughts and emotions. This humanizes the
animals and sometimes, as in this case, gives them an almost comic quality,
reinforced in the amusing title. Domestic animals like cats and dogs were
particularly open to anthropomorphism by artists painting for the wealthier
classes.
Dollman trained at the Royal Academy Schools where he later exhibited.
This particular painting was featured in 1879 and was acquired by the
Walker Art Gallery in 1880.
This painting is presently in store but will be featured in the forthcoming
children's gallery.
Animals online exhibition |
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