The Reverend Thomas Levett and favourite dogs, cock-shooting 1811

Editor: We’re looking at James Ward's "The Reverend Thomas Levett and favourite dogs, cock-shooting" from 1811, an oil painting. I find the image strangely unsettling. The Reverend seems quite composed, yet the scene feels fraught. What kind of symbols do you see here? Curator: Ward, through his meticulous depiction, opens up a Pandora’s Box of symbolism. Look at the Reverend – seemingly a man of peace, yet armed. And consider, what does "cock-shooting" evoke beyond the literal? What primal urges might be masked by this ostensibly civilised activity? Editor: So, you're suggesting there's a darker subtext? Curator: Precisely! Notice how the dogs mirror human drives—one hesitant, the other driven to the hunt. Consider the loaded symbolism of the gun, contrasting against the garb of a clergyman. What cultural memory does this invoke? What continuities do you find in its symbolism through today? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the dogs as representing different facets of human desire, or the loaded tension between piety and violence. Curator: It’s Ward’s brilliance—layering seemingly bucolic scenes with complex emotional and psychological weight. He understands the deep power of images to speak volumes. This cultural tension is very alive in modern discourse around power and belief, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely, thinking about it now, this image triggers so many questions about class, social role and dominance. Thanks for revealing these cultural codes in the picture, I understand the artwork a lot better now! Curator: And thank you. Visual symbols are a gift, if we learn how to look deeply at the hidden stories behind the appearances!