Once upon a time there lived a dog: the image of a dog in works of art

The book and illustrative exhibition "Once upon a time there lived a dog: the image of a dog in works of art" from the collection of fine documents of the National Library takes place from December 7 to January 4 in the fine arts reading room (room 306).

From ancient times to the present day, the dog has played an important role in our lives. A symbol of protection, loyalty, devotion, unconditional love, this amazing animal is a true friend, companion and helper of man – accompanies him in various activities. In different eras, dogs were respected and revered, recognizing their unique qualities. So, during the Late Paleolithic period (20-11 thousand years ago), when people's lives were full of dangers, dogs became the main helpers: they guarded a person's home from wild animals and uninvited guests, hunted with him, helped a lost traveler find his way home. In ancient Egypt, the dog was considered a sacred animal, it was believed that it was a guide to the afterlife. The ancient Greeks and Romans had a similar attitude to four-legged friends: dog profiles were minted on coins, and beloved pets were sung in verse. In the Renaissance, Baroque and subsequent periods, the dog was perceived as a companion and companion, sometimes the beast personified the wealth of the owner and his high status. Nowadays, four-legged friends, along with cats, are still one of the most beloved pets.

The nature and habits of dogs, their appearance and breeds have always attracted the attention of painters and sculptors from different countries, eras and styles. The exhibition presents a panorama of images of dogs in reproductions of the best paintings of world art, from antiquity to the present day. Visitors will see images of the animal on rock paintings, recognize the ancient Egyptian god Anubis, traditionally depicted with the body of a man and the head of a dog.

As a symbol of marital fidelity and devotion, the great Dutchman Jan van Eyck depicted a miniature dog on the canvas "Portrait of the Arnolfini couple". The sketches of dogs by Leonardo da Vinci, different dogs in drawings and engravings by Albrecht Durer will surprise you with the accuracy of anatomy, the characteristic "canine" angles that the great masters caught. It is worth seeing brave and eager to attack dogs on canvases depicting hunting scenes, for example, in the famous painting by Peter Brueghel the Elder "Hunters in the Snow", in the works of Peter Paul Rubens and other masters. A smile will be caused by images of dogs trying to steal a treat from the table or dining together with their owners, as in the works of Frans Sneijders, Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin, the little Dutch.

Purebred dogs are frequent heroes of portraits of aristocrats, kings and princes, in which they accompany their noble owners. The beauty of such dogs, their appearance can be appreciated by looking at reproductions of paintings by English painters Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, William Hogarth.

Affectionate fluffy pets playing with children, we will find in the works of representatives of the Rococo style, as well as impressionists. Dogs in the works of modernists will be interesting, for example, a rapidly running dog with many paws in the painting "Dynamism of a dog on a leash" by Giacomo Ball, a representative of futurism, which is characterized by the transmission of speed, demonstration of a moving object simultaneously in a variety of time points.

Russian artists often turned to the images of dogs. The exhibition presents reproductions of paintings "Horsewoman" by Karl Bryullov; "Portrait of Zinaida Yusupova" and "Collie" by Valentin Serov; four-legged friends on canvases by Zinaida Serebryakova; a dog sharing the hardships of children in the painting "Troika" by Vasily Perov; a good-natured dog joyfully meeting its owner in the work "Again “two”" by Fyodor Reshetnikov and many others.

A significant part of the exhibition shows the works of Belarusian artists, who were often inspired by the images of dogs. It is worth seeing four-legged friends in the paintings and graphic works of Ivan Khrutsky, Leanid Shchamialew, Barys Zaboraw, Uladzimir Toustik, Valery Slavuk, Valiantsin Gubaraw, Anatol Kantsub, Viktar Barabantsav, Antonina Maiseeva, in sculptures by Nikalai Bayrachny and other authors.

The exhibition is complemented by books about dog breeds, their nutrition, and training features that will help owners better understand their pets and provide them with decent care.

In December, in the hall of art documents, we invite you to visit exhibitions dedicated to the days of memory of artists Vladimir Rynkevich (1952-2021) and Ales Rodin (1947-2022), as well as anniversary exhibitions dedicated to the 205th anniversary of the birth of poet and graphic artist Arthur Bartels (1818-1885), the 120th anniversary of the birth of painter Ivan Akhremchik (1903-1971), the 85th anniversary of the birth of graphic artist Eduard Agunovich (1938-2020).

The opening hours of the exhibition corresponds to the library’s opening hours.
Entrance to the exhibition is available by the library ticket or ticket of the library's social and cultural centre.

Phone for inquiries: +37517 293 27 53.

The material is provided by the service department of specialized funds.