About the Artwork

The photograph in the header is a painting of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, dated 1853. The artist, location, and dog are unknown, but the dog can be seen reclining on a seawall, with a plantation house in the background. Common settings for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers at that time!

The narrow muzzle and deep stop are attributed to animal portrait styles of the day (compare to paintings of horses and other dogs from that era), but the painting definitely depicts a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

This, and other photographs of this historic find were sent to me by Leonora Paglia of Staten Island, who picked up the painting at a flea market.

The side piece is Summer or Wood Duck c1821-1825 by John James Audubon (1785-1851).

Mallard c1821-1825 by John James Audubon (1785-1851) appears in the footer.