'Fanny', a Favourite Dog 1822

James Ward painted this oil on canvas named 'Fanny', a Favourite Dog. See how Fanny the dog reclines on a stone parapet overlooking a picturesque landscape filled with classical ruins. Dogs, since antiquity, have been symbols of loyalty, vigilance, and companionship. Their depiction can be traced through art history, from the faithful hounds accompanying their masters in medieval tapestries to the pampered lapdogs of Renaissance portraits. Here, Ward elevates Fanny beyond a mere pet. The ruins evoke a sense of nostalgia, a longing for a lost golden age, and the dog is the symbol of a connection to nature. Think of the ancient Roman mosaics depicting dogs guarding thresholds. Ward's portrait taps into our collective memory, stirring feelings of comfort, security, and connection. Like the ever-watchful Cerberus guarding the gates of the underworld, dogs reappear and reassert the archetypal symbol of loyalty.