© copyright Ria Hörter 2016 - Do not use or reproduce anything without written permission. This website was first launched in 2007. Pride Webdesign - Ruut Tilstra
Nothing New under the Sun
A series of articles that shows that through the ages, many aspects of the dog world hasn’t changed.
The articles were published in the Canadian dog magazine ‘Dogs in Canada’, in the American dog
magazine ‘Canine Chronicle’ and in the Dutch dog magazine ONZE HOND
We
all
know
that
it’s
good
for
dogs
to
work.
Gun
dogs,
sled
dogs,
detection
dogs,
police
dogs,
avalanche
dogs
and
guide
dogs
all
complete
long
and
often
intensive
training
schedules.
The same goes for circus dogs, past and present.
Illustrated with paintings and old photographs.
In
1640,
François
Verwilt
(ca.
1620-1691)
of
Rotterdam
painted
a
man
dancing
with
his
dog.
Today,
dog
dancing
is
on
the
program
of
many
dog
exhibitions,
large
or
small.
New
elements
were
added,
the
colorful
costumes
became
spectacular,
but
respect
and
trust
are
still
the
keywords.
It’s
a
short
step
from
the
17th-
century
painting,
via
an
old
photograph,
to
the
videos
of
Mary
Ray. And indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.
Illustrated with old en new paintings and photographs.
The
expression
“our
loyal
friends”
is
often
used
in
reference
to
dogs.
However,
there’s
a
special
category
of
dogs
that
always
deserves
this
qualification:
Dogs
for
war
are
brave,
intelligent,
well
trained,
loyal
animals
under
all
circumstances.
Frequently,
they
pay
for
their
loyalty with their lives.
Illustrated with old en new paintings and photographs.
If
you
are
interested
in
publishing
one
or
more
of
these
articles,
illustrations
and
photographs
included
please
contact
me.
E-mail: horter@tiscali.nl
All
articles
are
available
in
English
and/or in Dutch.
1.
Avalanche Rescue Dogs
2.
Circus Dogs
3.
Dog Dancing
4.
Dogs for War
5.
Self Portrait with a Dog
Dogs
have
been
assisting
people
since
early
times,
as
companions
during
the
hunt,
flock
herders
and
guardians,
sled
dogs,
draft
dogs
and
pack
dogs.
In
dangerous
situations,
dogs
can save lives.
Illustrated with old and new prints and photographs
Creating
a
self-portrait
is
a
time-honoured
tradition
among
painters.
Including
their
own
dog
in
a
self-portrait
implies
a
special
bond
between
artist
and
dog.
I
didn’t
find
any
reference
to
self-portraits
with
dogs
from
classical
antiquity.
Only
during
the
Renaissance,
with
its
renewed
interest
in
secular
art
and
the
individual
as
a
subject,
did
self-portraits
become
popular.
This
article
will
be
limited
to
paintings
with dogs that can be identified as a breed or type.
Illustrated with old and new paintings by Leonardo da Vinci,
Rembrandt van Rijn, William Hogarth, Frida Kahlo and many
others.