A rare painting from David Hockney’s beloved Dog Series—one of only a handful known to remain in private hands—is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s, marking the first time a work from the collection has entered the auction market. The artist’s playful relationship with his dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie, extended beyond companionship, inspiring a series of portraits that capture their uninhibited charm. A notorious anecdote reveals Hockney’s easygoing attitude toward their mischief, including an incident at actor Dennis Hopper’s Los Angeles home where one of the dogs left a mess. The upcoming sale offers collectors a chance to own a piece of Hockney’s whimsical tribute to his four-legged muses.
Exclusive: Dog Painting 17 is believed to be one of only six of works from Dog Series in private hands and first to be auctionedDavid Hockney adored his dachshunds Stanley and Boodgie and let them run riot – so much so that after one had an accident in the LA home of the actor Dennis Hopper, the painter is said to have quipped: “It’ll be dry in the morning, luv, and you can just pick it up.”But Hockney did not just indulge his four-legged companions, he treated them as portrait subjects for a series of paintings, one of which is to be sold by Christie’s. Continue reading...
