Muff, a Black and White Dog c. 1740 - 1750

Curator: John Wootton painted this rather grand portrait, "Muff, a Black and White Dog." Editor: The dog looks somewhat forlorn, set against that imposing, almost melancholic landscape. Curator: Well, Wootton was known for his sporting and animal paintings. He often received commissions from wealthy landowners. The positioning of the dog within the landscape signals status. Editor: It’s intriguing how the artist uses the natural world here, those classical architectural elements in the background alongside the dog. It reads as this almost theatrical staging of power. Curator: Certainly. It tells us a great deal about the relationship between humans, animals, and property in that era. Editor: I suppose what stays with me is the gaze of the dog. Almost as if he is aware of his symbolic position. Curator: Indeed, it brings an interesting dimension to our understanding of how animals were, and perhaps are, perceived.