The Artist's Wife and His Setter Dog
Original title: The Artist's Wife and His Setter Dog
kurzbeschreibung
Susan Macdowell Eakins, the painter's wife, sits in an interior with her setter stretched out on the floor before her. Thomas Eakins painted the picture around 1884–89 in oil on canvas. Unlike a pure animal study or a conventional portrait, this scene does both at once: it is a personal likeness and a portrait of a dog.
Description
The woman, in a pale blue long-sleeved dress, has settled onto a wooden chair, her gaze drifting slightly to the right. The setter lies flat on its back, eyes closed, entirely at ease. A dark cabinet and a picture on the wall appear behind her. Browns and yellows govern the muted, warm palette, and light falls evenly from the front across both woman and animal.
Context
In the 1880s Eakins turned increasingly to portraiture. Susan, an artist herself, modeled for him many times. The setter was his own hunting dog. The picture was made in the painter's house in Philadelphia, where such private scenes were part of daily life.
Impact
The calm arrangement and warm tones create an intimate, domestic mood. Woman and dog both look relaxed, and that quiet closeness draws the viewer into the moment.
Technique
Eakins worked in oil on canvas with soft brushstrokes that give a faintly impressionistic feel. The subdued colors and even lighting point to his realist approach, recording details precisely without overworking them.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)