I first came across this painting while researching for my book "Spanish Dogs: The Story of Dogs in Spanish History, Culture & the Arts". It immediately caught my attention because unlike many other dogs depicted in Spanish art, this one was clearly a beloved pet. It was great to find it in the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville.
The notion of dogs as beloved companions of the bourgeoisie, i.e. the upper middle class and wealthy individuals, began to emerge in the 19th century. Before that, dogs were mainly kept for practical purposes, be it hunting, guarding or farm work. However, as cities grew and industrialisation took hold, people had more leisure time and began to keep dogs as companions to enjoy and keep them company.
The painting entitled 'Two Good Friends or Woman on a Sofa with Mastin' is an exquisite oil painting on canvas and measures 108 x 174 cm. It offers a glimpse of a bourgeois interior almost entirely dominated by the presence of a majestic mastiff. In the background, a woman leans on a sofa, creating a calm atmosphere that surrounds both characters — the quiet woman and her gentle companion, the dog. In this work of art, Andrés Parladé, Conde de Aguiar, showed a remarkable preference for the figure of the dog, to which he paid more attention than to the female subject.
Andrés Parladé, who was born in Málaga on 6 January 1859 and died in Seville in 1933, was the mastermind behind this captivating work. His love of dogs is not only evident in this painting, but also in various other works found in the collections of the Seville Fine Arts Museum, where his canine companions are recurring themes that add depth and charm to his art.
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Aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of our beloved Spanish dogs, this exciting adventure will leave you with a newfound apprecia...
