Thursday, 19 March 2026

Dogs

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking for Pets

Its springtime, blossom and flowers are blooming, and there is no need to wrap up in layers to
Cifford's Tower, York 1952-1953 by LS Lowry (1887-1976)
take a dog for a walk. Lowry usually has a dog somewhere in his urban paintings. This one is unusual in that he is away from his home base and they are not random dogs (and the occasional cat) walking through a crowd but feature dogs and their owners. Lowry's three paintings of York which were commissioned for £50 in 1952 are here.
Fidelity by Briton Riviere 1840-1920)
Originally titled Prisoners when shown at the Royal Academy in 1869 the painting depicts a young poacher and his loyal dog locked  in a prison cell and no doubt about to face some harsh punishment (the Victorian game laws were enforced with great severity). The painting was purchased by the industrialist and philanthropist Lord Leverhulme in 1903 who changed the name to 'Fidelity', shifting the focus from the crime to the comfort and love of a dog.

5 comments:

Mail Adventures said...

Thanks for the link to the three paintings.
I like the story behind the third postcard. Great painting, too!

violet s said...

Changing the name to Fidelity was a generous idea. It is either a shame, or comfort, that the dog was imprisoned with the poacher.
I have really grown to appreciate Lowry's painting and was immediately struck by how many dogs were in this one.

marina said...

The dog in the Fidelity painting looks so sweet! I also admire the style of your second postcard.

Lisa said...

They locked the dogs up too? That's a moving painting, and I'm glad the name was changed.

FinnBadger said...

Great selection - how could anyone resist the lab pup?