Dogs - Mfas3
DOGS A R T C O N N E C T I O N S > Recommended for all ages
Arno
Dogs have been represented in art ever since humans first began keeping them as pets. Canines have helped us find food, kept us warm at night, guarded us, and have been our loyal companions. It’s no surprise that dogs are in so many works of art around the Museum. Start your tour in Gallery 136 in the Art of the Americas Wing.
Gallery 136
Find this life-sized sculpture in the Americans Abroad Gallery, 136. This greyhound’s name is Arno. The artist Horatio Greenough carved this sculpture in his studio in Florence, Italy. The river that runs through Florence is called the Arno. Greyhounds are known for being loving, intelligent, and gentle. His real-life dog named Arno greeted visitors as they entered Greenough’s studio.
> How do you feel when you are greeted by Arno? Please resist petting him! > Does he look friendly, tired, scary, alert? Arno was carved from a block of hard stone called marble. Look at him closely. > How would he look different if he were made of wood? What about metal?
Carousel figure of a greyhound
Gallery 237
After you visit Arno, travel to the Folk Art Gallery, 237, where you will find another greyhound who was once part of a carousel (also known as a merry-go-round). The artist Charles Looff carved carousel figures as a hobby. He made about a dozen other greyhounds like this one, all said to be modeled after a family pet. (Just like Arno!) Carousels were a popular form of entertainment about 100 years ago. In just thirty years, from the 1890s to the 1920s, more than 3,000 carousels were installed at amusement parks across the USA.
> Compare this dog to Arno; how is this carousel dog similar or different? > Is this dog as alert as Arno? You are looking at the “romance” side of this dog, the more elaborately decorated side shown on the outside of the carousel. When he was given to the MFA, this pup was painted dark brown and covered in a thick layer of varnish. Carousel figures were repainted often because they were exposed to the weather. Conservators (Museum staff who take care of artwork) removed 14 layers of paint to reveal the original painted surface that you see here today!
DOGS ART CONNECTIONS > Recommended for all ages
Bed
Made possible by Arthur R. Hilsinger and Barbara J. Janson.
Gallery 251
In the 19th-Century European Gallery, 251, find this wooden bed with green silk covers. Walk around the bed to look at all the details. By now, you know what kind of dogs you’re looking at!
> How do these dogs’ expressions make you feel? > What creatures or animals would you like to have guard your bed? > Do you have a pet who sleeps on or near your bed? With your Museum buddies, make up a story about the person you think may have slept in this bed.
FUN FACT
Greyhounds are extremely fast— they can run at speeds up to 45 miles per hour! Search for more dogs (and greyhounds) as you explore the Museum. Look on furniture and in paintings and sculptures. Make sketches of and take notes about what you see along the way.
After your visit
PET PORTRAITS
Sketch a portrait of your own animal or a friend’s animal. Look closely at the pet’s posture and expression. If the animal wears a collar or has a special characteristic (a spot, a particular slope to his ears, a long or short muzzle), be sure to include it in your portrait. REVERSE, LEFT: CHARLES I. D. LOOFF, CAROUSEL FIGURE OF A GREYHOUND, ABOUT 1905–1910. PAINTED WOOD; GLASS. GIFT OF CLAIRE M. AND ROBERT N. GANZ, 1992. ON VIEW IN THE JOYCE AND EDWARD LINDE GALLERY, 237. REVERSE, RIGHT: HORATIO GREENOUGH, ARNO, 1839. MARBLE. ARTHUR TRACY CABOT FUND, 1973. ON VIEW IN THE LIBERTY MUTUAL GALLERY, 136. ABOVE: DESIGN ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS HOPE, BED, ABOUT 1800-05. OAK AND PINE VENEERED WITH MAHOGANY AND PAINTED BLACK, PATINATED BRONZE MOUNTS. MUSEUM PURCHASE WITH FUNDS DONATED ANONYMOUSLY AND BY EXCHANGE FROM A GIFT GIVEN IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM HEWSON BALTZELL, BY HIS WIFE ALICE CHENEY BALTZELL, GIFT OF THE ESTATE OF GERTRUDE T. TAFT, GIFT OF EBEN HOWARD GAY, HELEN AND ALICE COLBURN FUND, GIFT OF EBEN HOWARD GAY, GIFT OF DR. AND MRS. RONALD M. FERRY, BEQUEST OF MRS. HARRIET J. BRADBURY, BEQUEST OF SUSAN GREENE DEXTER IN MEMORY OF CHARLES AND MARTHA BABCOCK AMORY, THE ELIZABETH DAY MCCORMICK COLLECTION, GIFT OF MISS ANNA C. HOYT, GIFT OF MR. AND MRS. MAXIM KAROLIK, GIFT OF EUGENE L. GARBÁTY, BEQUEST OF MRS. T. O. RICHARDSON, BEQUEST OF GEORGE NIXON BLACK, GIFT OF FRED PARKER AND MARY C. EMERY, THE JOHN PICKERING LYMAN COLLECTION. GIFT OF MISS THEODORA LYMAN, GIFT OF MRS. SIDNEY T. ALLEN, GIFT OF MRS. JOHN ADLEN CARPENTER, GIFT OF DUDLEY LEAVITT PICKMAN, HARRIET OTIS CRUFT FUND, GIFT OF MRS. RUTH KELLOGG FERRY, GIFT OF MRS. HORATIO APPLETON LAMB IN MEMORY OF MRS. WINTHROP SARGENT, GIFT OF MISS EVELYN SEARS AND GIFT OF MRS. ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE IN MEMORY OF DELIA SPENCER FIELD, 2003. ON VIEW IN THE LEONA R. BEAL GALLERY, 251. ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. © 2013 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.
Arno
Dogs have been represented in art ever since humans first began keeping them as pets. Canines have helped us find food, kept us warm at night, guarded us, and have been our loyal companions. It’s no surprise that dogs are in so many works of art around the Museum. Start your tour in Gallery 136 in the Art of the Americas Wing.
Gallery 136
Find this life-sized sculpture in the Americans Abroad Gallery, 136. This greyhound’s name is Arno. The artist Horatio Greenough carved this sculpture in his studio in Florence, Italy. The river that runs through Florence is called the Arno. Greyhounds are known for being loving, intelligent, and gentle. His real-life dog named Arno greeted visitors as they entered Greenough’s studio.
> How do you feel when you are greeted by Arno? Please resist petting him! > Does he look friendly, tired, scary, alert? Arno was carved from a block of hard stone called marble. Look at him closely. > How would he look different if he were made of wood? What about metal?
Carousel figure of a greyhound
Gallery 237
After you visit Arno, travel to the Folk Art Gallery, 237, where you will find another greyhound who was once part of a carousel (also known as a merry-go-round). The artist Charles Looff carved carousel figures as a hobby. He made about a dozen other greyhounds like this one, all said to be modeled after a family pet. (Just like Arno!) Carousels were a popular form of entertainment about 100 years ago. In just thirty years, from the 1890s to the 1920s, more than 3,000 carousels were installed at amusement parks across the USA.
> Compare this dog to Arno; how is this carousel dog similar or different? > Is this dog as alert as Arno? You are looking at the “romance” side of this dog, the more elaborately decorated side shown on the outside of the carousel. When he was given to the MFA, this pup was painted dark brown and covered in a thick layer of varnish. Carousel figures were repainted often because they were exposed to the weather. Conservators (Museum staff who take care of artwork) removed 14 layers of paint to reveal the original painted surface that you see here today!
DOGS ART CONNECTIONS > Recommended for all ages
Bed
Made possible by Arthur R. Hilsinger and Barbara J. Janson.
Gallery 251
In the 19th-Century European Gallery, 251, find this wooden bed with green silk covers. Walk around the bed to look at all the details. By now, you know what kind of dogs you’re looking at!
> How do these dogs’ expressions make you feel? > What creatures or animals would you like to have guard your bed? > Do you have a pet who sleeps on or near your bed? With your Museum buddies, make up a story about the person you think may have slept in this bed.
FUN FACT
Greyhounds are extremely fast— they can run at speeds up to 45 miles per hour! Search for more dogs (and greyhounds) as you explore the Museum. Look on furniture and in paintings and sculptures. Make sketches of and take notes about what you see along the way.
After your visit
PET PORTRAITS
Sketch a portrait of your own animal or a friend’s animal. Look closely at the pet’s posture and expression. If the animal wears a collar or has a special characteristic (a spot, a particular slope to his ears, a long or short muzzle), be sure to include it in your portrait. REVERSE, LEFT: CHARLES I. D. LOOFF, CAROUSEL FIGURE OF A GREYHOUND, ABOUT 1905–1910. PAINTED WOOD; GLASS. GIFT OF CLAIRE M. AND ROBERT N. GANZ, 1992. ON VIEW IN THE JOYCE AND EDWARD LINDE GALLERY, 237. REVERSE, RIGHT: HORATIO GREENOUGH, ARNO, 1839. MARBLE. ARTHUR TRACY CABOT FUND, 1973. ON VIEW IN THE LIBERTY MUTUAL GALLERY, 136. ABOVE: DESIGN ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS HOPE, BED, ABOUT 1800-05. OAK AND PINE VENEERED WITH MAHOGANY AND PAINTED BLACK, PATINATED BRONZE MOUNTS. MUSEUM PURCHASE WITH FUNDS DONATED ANONYMOUSLY AND BY EXCHANGE FROM A GIFT GIVEN IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM HEWSON BALTZELL, BY HIS WIFE ALICE CHENEY BALTZELL, GIFT OF THE ESTATE OF GERTRUDE T. TAFT, GIFT OF EBEN HOWARD GAY, HELEN AND ALICE COLBURN FUND, GIFT OF EBEN HOWARD GAY, GIFT OF DR. AND MRS. RONALD M. FERRY, BEQUEST OF MRS. HARRIET J. BRADBURY, BEQUEST OF SUSAN GREENE DEXTER IN MEMORY OF CHARLES AND MARTHA BABCOCK AMORY, THE ELIZABETH DAY MCCORMICK COLLECTION, GIFT OF MISS ANNA C. HOYT, GIFT OF MR. AND MRS. MAXIM KAROLIK, GIFT OF EUGENE L. GARBÁTY, BEQUEST OF MRS. T. O. RICHARDSON, BEQUEST OF GEORGE NIXON BLACK, GIFT OF FRED PARKER AND MARY C. EMERY, THE JOHN PICKERING LYMAN COLLECTION. GIFT OF MISS THEODORA LYMAN, GIFT OF MRS. SIDNEY T. ALLEN, GIFT OF MRS. JOHN ADLEN CARPENTER, GIFT OF DUDLEY LEAVITT PICKMAN, HARRIET OTIS CRUFT FUND, GIFT OF MRS. RUTH KELLOGG FERRY, GIFT OF MRS. HORATIO APPLETON LAMB IN MEMORY OF MRS. WINTHROP SARGENT, GIFT OF MISS EVELYN SEARS AND GIFT OF MRS. ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE IN MEMORY OF DELIA SPENCER FIELD, 2003. ON VIEW IN THE LEONA R. BEAL GALLERY, 251. ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. © 2013 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.
