In the earliest days of our history, a dog became the closest animal to man - a friend, helpmate and companion. Simple ceramic figurines from the prehistoric period were the first sculptures depicting dogs. This is a testament to the recognition of the significance of the dog in human life. Not surprisingly, depictions of dogs have been found in the art of peoples, belonging to various styles and periods.

Perhaps the earliest images of a four-legged pet come from Ancient Egyptian times. The images were of a sacred nature. The art of ancient Greece and Rome did not ignore dogs - whether they were hunting, guarding, shepherding or simply favorite pets. In ancient and ancient times, the appearance of dogs in artwork was symbolic. They were traditionally depicted graphically.

The mystical image of the lion dog, which originated in the East, penetrated into Japan via India, China and Korea. Pekingese dogs were perceived as miniatures of Buddhist lions and were highly sought after, believed to bring peace and harmony to human life. Throughout time and across cultures, dogs have been portrayed as symbols of protection, loyalty, vigilance and devoted love.

In the Middle Ages, art became immersed in the world of fantasy and symbols. The theme of struggle between good and evil became the main (apart from purely religious subjects) source of inspiration for artisans. A dog played a limited, mainly decorative role in their works.

During the Renaissance, painters and sculptors in search of ideal proportions focused on the study of the body anatomy and morphology. A horse became the main personage of their animalistic works; a dog attracted less attention. At the same, everyday plots and together with them the image of a dog, were developed. Musclebound Powerful fight dogs appear on the portraits of kings and princes, while fluffy lap dogs keep noble ladies company. However, everywhere -- in genre scenes, on the portraits of the nobility, they were the embellishing details and not participants in the events.
It was not until the 17^th century that artists stopped rendering dogs as decorative objects. Canvases began to depict communication between a man and an animal.

About two hundred years ago, authors appeared in whose works dogs not only play the major role, but also take on almost human-like features. At the same time, the relationship between children and animals became more and more popular in art. The middle class, gaining strength, wanted to see plots close in spirit and foolproof to everyone. There were artists whose work was dedicated to scenes from common life. The manner of rendering became sentimental, designed to cause tenderness. In the middle of the 18^th century animalism as an independent genre became popular in Europe.

A special and very interesting layer of visual art were hunting plots. It is impossible to imagine a painting depicting a hunting scene that does not involve dogs. Dog hunting was an indicator of the high social status of the participants. The importance of hunting was also great from a political point of view. During hunting many important political and state affairs were figured. For this purpose, foreign ambassadors and diplomats were often invited to the major hunt. The destiny of the entire country sometimes depended on a successful hunt.

Portraits of dogs, subtle and psychological, reflecting the inner world of a faithful four-legged friend began to appear in the fine and decorative art in the 19^th century. Thematic album for World Dog Day is posted in the museum Photo Gallery.