Art for Dog Sake

Last weekend, I went to St. Louis with other members of the Metropolitan Dog Club. The purpose of our trip was to visit the Museum of the Dog.

Located in the historic 1853 Jarville House in West St. Louis County, Missouri, The Dog Museum is affiliated with the American Kennel Club. Gift donations of art continue to make this unique museum's collection one of the largest in the country. Artists in the collection include Kirsme, Wardle, Bristow, Landseer, Trood, Earl, Rosseau and others including Bernard above.

To my mild amusement, I was happy to see Christine Merrill paintings of the George and Barbara Bush's Springer Spaniel, Millie, relaxing on the South Lawn and George and Laura's Scotties, Barney and Mrs. Beasely. I wonder if Merrill will be painting the Obama's new puppy or is she strictly a Republican painter.

Moreover, our lovely group of ladies was fortunate to have a private tour with the museum's first director, William Secord, the world authority on 19th century dog painting and collectibles. What was so fabulous about the tour with Bill, was that not only did he discuss the specifics of the paintings, but he could provide us with the scoop about the donor and the donation.

With side trips to visit the Arch and the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the oldest in the country at 150 years of age, the trip was worth dealing with our unbelievable travel agent, who will be for be forever know as "Oh Diane!"

If you are ever in St. Louis, don't miss out. Drive the 22 miles or 30 minute trip out to the Dog Museum. I encourage you to leave a sirius, monetary donation.

But if you can't make it to St. Louis, stop by Bill's gallery at 52 East 76th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10021. It is a dog lover's dream. To learn more about the gallery, visit http://www.dogpainting.com/.