I was looking for a red, white and blue patriotic dog for today's post, but couldn't find anything just right. So I decided to find a painter born on July 4th –- only came up with Rube Goldberg — not right either. That led me to Early American Art. What about someone who painted dogs in 1776?
Well, I came close. Ammi Phillips (1788 – 1865) was a self-taught artist who traveled the rural towns of Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts painting portraits. His use of bold geometric color is breathtaking and Phillips was in great demand at the time. Being a clever businessman, he used interchangeable elements in his portraits so clients could envision the finished product and he could work quickly.
So, these portraits are not of sisters with the same pet dog. Rather, the Beagle represents fidelity. Their coral necklaces were common charms against evil, and the strawberries in the dark-haired girl's hands are a symbol of youthful vitality. I did a bit of research and couldn't find anything about the cat. Stacy C. Hollander discusses the cat in her extensive Magazine Antiques article on Ammi and comments on its "strongly horizontal thrust," but doesn't decipher its meaning. Maybe the cat is just a cat. Anyway…it made my blog look red, white and blue today. Mission accomplished.
Happy 4th of July! View Girl in a Red Dress with Cat and Dog at the American Folk Art Museum in NYC. Girl in a Red Dress is part of Chicago's Terra Foundation for American Art's collection. Giclee prints of her are available here.
7.05.07 Update: My niece Lucy (above) must have been channeling these Early American girls yesterday because look at the red velvet dress she insisted on wearing to the beach! She'd been begging to wear it for weeks and when she heard it was a day to sport red, white, and blue, she seized her opportunity. How could my sister argue? It's really good for curtseying too – – important for Princess Lucy. I had to add her here, as she fits right in. Just needs a Beagle and a coral necklace 🙂
