Lord Southampton’s Shooting Pony, with ‘Sailor’, His Retriever, and ‘Rover’, His Spaniel c. 1822

This graphite sketch of Lord Southampton's shooting pony and his dogs, ‘Sailor’ and ‘Rover’, is by James Ward. Here, the dog, a symbol of loyalty and companionship, is depicted in a hunting scene. Yet, consider the dog's ancient pedigree. From the mythic Cerberus, guardian of the underworld, to the faithful hounds in Renaissance tapestries, the dog has long carried profound symbolic weight. Observe how the retriever proudly carries the hunted game. This mirrors the classical motif of the cornucopia, a symbol of abundance and prosperity, but here, the dog is the vessel. The pathos of the hunt, the cycle of life and death, resonates within this scene, evoking a primal connection between humans, animals, and the natural world. This emotional tapestry is woven into the very fabric of our collective consciousness, a testament to the enduring power of images.