Dog

The highly stylized volumes of this sculpture make it instantly recognizable as that of the internationally renowned Columbian artist, Fernando Botero, who was known for his rotund and humorous subjects. In this work, simply titled Dog, Botero reimagines a sculptural theme ubiquitous in the Mesoamerican, Assyrian, and Egyptian art that he admired: animals. Botero adapts the sinuous and detailed mythological beast forms of ancient civilization to the sites and culture of contemporary life in Columbia. He sculpts a convincing portrait of the popular spoiled pet of the upper-class: the family dog. With its lustrous patina and idealized symmetry, Botero’s Dog exhibits the type of artistic transformation he is known for, imbuing everyday subjects with the sensuality and physical presence of traditionally monumental works of art.

Gift from Sam Rose `58