The Gazette

Medieval and renaissance art was often pedagogical in purpose, meaning that it implicitly taught a lesson to the audience. Dogs were part of these moralizing messages. However, their meaning varied greatly depending on context. They could be loyal, noble companions or greedy, lascivious beasts. So, for this blog post, I found some canine art from Google Arts and Culture, which I will use to answer that most pressing of questions: Who's a good boy?!  Hunters in the Snow   Official Verdict: Good boys!  This 16th century oil painting is one of the most famous of the Northern Renaissance. It is part of a series on the seasons of the year; this one obviously represents winter. In it, two hunters look out over a snowy landscape, where human houses are engulfed by white fields, dead trees, and looming mountains. This painting conveys a feeling of human insignificance. But all hope is not lost! Accompanying the hunters is a pack of faithful dogs, who trudge through the snow with ...