Every picture tells a story
Country Life UK|April 24, 2024
As the National Gallery prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary in May, Carla Passino delves into the fascinating history of 10 of its paintings, from artistic triumphs to ugly ducklings and a clever fake
Every picture tells a story

To say nothing of the dog Bacchus and Ariadne lends itself to a cornucopia of superlatives. It is one of the finest works by one of the greatest Old Masters, capturing a scene from one of the most enthralling classical myths, as sung by two of antiquity’s most distinguished poets. It has everything that befits a masterpiece, from captivating colours to dramatic action and exquisite detail: the emotion gripping Ariadne, whose body still faces the ship of faithless Theseus as her face turns towards the carefree Bacchus; the smitten god’s ungraceful leap from his cheetah-drawn chariot, too lost in the princess’s beauty to pay attention to his step; the motley retinue of nymphs, satyrs and a snake-clad Laocoön revelling in a drunken dance; and, up in the sky, golden stars hinting at the couple’s future. Perhaps less fittingly, however, it also includes a little black lap dog, a toy spaniel of the kind so popular in 16th-century courts. It goes up to a young satyr, barking, albeit more curious than menacing.

Titian added the dog at a later stage, possibly as a nod to his patron, Alfonso d’Este, whose companion it may have been (it wears a collar).

This wasn’t the only time the Master showed a penchant for inserting pooches in his work, however, whether in his paintings of the goddess Diana, always surrounded by canine hunting companions, or in his depictions of Venus, who rarely appears without one. Some critics, such as art historian Simona Cohen from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, believe Titian painted dogs as symbols—at times of seduction, at other times of treachery or human bestiality—but it’s much jollier to think that he simply really liked them.

Bu hikaye Country Life UK dergisinin April 24, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Country Life UK dergisinin April 24, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

COUNTRY LIFE UK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
Country Life UK

Kitchen garden cook - Apples

'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'

time-read
2 dak  |
October 23, 2024
The original Mr Rochester
Country Life UK

The original Mr Rochester

Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre

time-read
5 dak  |
October 23, 2024
Get it write
Country Life UK

Get it write

Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution

time-read
6 dak  |
October 23, 2024
'Sloes hath ben my food'
Country Life UK

'Sloes hath ben my food'

A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright

time-read
3 dak  |
October 23, 2024
Souvenirs of greatness
Country Life UK

Souvenirs of greatness

FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.

time-read
3 dak  |
October 23, 2024
Plants for plants' sake
Country Life UK

Plants for plants' sake

The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson

time-read
7 dak  |
October 23, 2024
Capturing the castle
Country Life UK

Capturing the castle

Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker

time-read
6 dak  |
October 23, 2024
Nature's own cathedral
Country Life UK

Nature's own cathedral

Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods

time-read
5 dak  |
October 23, 2024
All that money could buy
Country Life UK

All that money could buy

A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages

time-read
8 dak  |
October 23, 2024
In with the old
Country Life UK

In with the old

Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery

time-read
5 dak  |
October 23, 2024