Renaissance Dogs: Curious canines from a bygone age

If every dog has its day, then the Renaissance period was it. It was the time when Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello (not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, FYI) ruled the art world and Shakespeare invented the English language. It was also the time when Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the Americas and Johannes Gutenberg printed the first ever book. It was the time, well, you get the picture. It was also the time of dogs. They were everywhere. But especially in pictures and paintings. And always by our side. Highly valued as status symbols, loyal companions, protectors and hunters.

Stuffed with more than 100 high-resolution dog-based artworks, produced between 1400-1650, and sourced from museums and art collections all around the world, Renaissance Dogs is the very first dog-alogue of its kind. It’s a comical celebration of man’s best friend, as seen through their eyes, and offers readers valuable insight into the world of dogs during the Golden Age and how they were represented in timeless art masterpieces.