The Lady with the Dog: Meaning of Dogs in Women’s Portraits

The Lady with the Dog is a title that I borrowed from Chekhov’s short story. While Chekhov’s story revolves around an affair, in the realm of art, dogs have frequently symbolized fidelity. As you will discover below, dogs have also been used as symbols of status, portraying loyal companions or even fashionable accessories. Explore the significance of dogs in women’s portraits.

1. Agnolo Bronzino, Portrait of a Lady with a Lapdog

Here, two pairs of focused and sharp eyes, the lady with the dog, carefully observe us. The lady seems to be looking at us a little ironically, with the slightest of smiles on her lips, while the dog is mistrustful, almost leaning back into the lady’s arm for protection. She is a very self-assured figure. Ascertaining her position is simple with all available attributes: rich jewelry, a beautiful dress made of the richest of materials, and a massive chair. Even the dog plays its part.

It is interesting how similar the gaze of the pet is to that of his owner. He is a tiny lapdog of a rich lady, confirming her status but also her fidelity and virtues. The dress is so sumptuous that it almost lives a life of its own, becoming the striking splash of color in this otherwise austere painting.

2. Titian, Venus of Urbino

Conversely, there is nothing austere about this painting. It is typically thought to be ordered by the Duke of Urbino, Guidobaldo II Della Rovere, as a gift for his young wife, Giulia Varano. Venus lies on the bed, looking straight at the viewer. Her pose and the directness of her gaze create sensual and erotic tension. On the right side of the painting, where we seem to be getting out of the spell of her eyes, we see a dog and two servants in the background. Some believe that the dog here is the symbol of fidelity, indicating that the women’s direct gaze and sensual body are only for her husband.

3. Titian, Clarissa Strozzi

We’re sticking with the dog here, as you can see Clarissa Strozzi owned a dog of the same breed as Venus of Urbino (Papillon). However, Clarissa has none of Venus’ self-confidence. She wears jewelry that many adult women would envy, but her pose is unstable. Clarissa looks as if she is leaning toward the dog, but at the same time, we feel something outside of the frame catching her attention. She is just about to move, and she’ll surely take her small companion with her. The dog just like in Bronzino’s painting seems a bit distrustful, as if it was cringing a bit. Maybe Clarissa pulled its tail on too many times, or maybe it is one of the breed’s characteristics.

4. François Boucher, Madame de Pompadour

Madame de Pompadour’s dog is not a happy one either. Clearly, something startled him, or maybe he feels overwhelmed by the extremely rich green dress. Madame de Pompadour does not pay him too much attention either, even though we know she loved animals and was usually accompanied by a dog. Boucher depicts it here as if it is just another accessory, a thing to keep the boredom at bay, just like the book she’s holding or the letter on the table. Look at this dress, though, you can completely miss the dog in the dress’s rich waves.

5. Pierre Auguste Renoir, Madame Georges Charpentier and her Children

In this case, we have a scene that, on one hand, is completely different; a painting of a happy and relaxed family. On the other hand, the pose of Madame Georges Charpentier closely resembles the assured pose of Madame de Pompadour; she also confidently owns the space around her. It is also interesting how the dog creates a counterpoint, an extremely bored or patient one at that, to Mme Charpentier’s dress. The dog here is the friend of the family, protector and ever-patient member.

6. Giovanni Boldini, Marchesa Luisa Casati with a Greyhound

Here the dog becomes a perfectly matched accessory, for example, just take a look at that collar! Its thin form underlined by the dramatic brushwork creates the basis of Marchesa’s elongated form. The painting is full of movement as if Casati stopped only for a second and is ready to storm off, looking for another adventure at any moment.