Titian’s “Venus of Urbino” is a masterpiece of Renaissance art that showcases the artist’s skill in painting the female form and his use of symbolism.
How to Draw a Dog in 4 Easy Steps
When it comes to learning to draw, most people want to know how to draw a dog easy. That’s because we love dogs! And, what better subject than your best friend. You’ll find in this easy step-by-step guide, that drawing dogs isn’t as difficult as you thought; just start with some basic shapes and build from there.
To draw a realistic dog you need the proper tools, such as Arteza Professional Drawing Pencils. With these pencils, you get varying degrees of lead, from 6B to 4H. Those in the B range have a softer lead for thicker, darker lines and shading; while the H range are pencils with a harder lead for finer and lighter lines. Here, the artist uses the HB pencil, which has a medium degree of hardness, and the 2H pencil. We also recommend using the Arteza Drawing Pad for this project; because, at a weight of 80 lb (26gsm), it is heavier than typical drawing paper and will give you a nice, sturdy surface. Using this acid-free paper will also ensure that your work doesn’t fade over time.
Your Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1. Start with circles and ovals.
The major parts of the dog’s body can be represented by various size circular shapes.
- Using the HB pencil, the artist makes a large circle for the chest, a medium circle for the dog’s hindquarters, and a small circle for the head placed just above the chest.
- She then draws a long oval shape where the tail will go.
- The artist shows where the muscular tops of the front and back legs are by using ovals to indicate them, smaller ones for the front and larger for the back. (See next example.)
- She uses the smallest circles to indicate the locations of joints on the hind legs, the ankles on the front legs, and for all four feet.
TIP: Since we’re drawing this dog as if we’re in front and to the side of it, get the correct perspective by placing the two circles of the front feet a little lower than the back feet. Things that appear closer to us will be lower and get a little higher as they move away from us.
It may not look like a dog quite yet, but now you have the foundation of shapes to begin building the dog’s frame.
Step 2. Connect the circles and ovals.
Begin by simply adding lines to connect all the circles and ovals.
- As you can see, the artist has used a curved line from the top of the chest circle to the top of the hindquarters circle to represent the dog’s back.
- She then connects the head circle to the chest with two lines to make a neck. Now, connect those two lines at the bottom with a V.
- The artist attaches the tail to the dog’s hindquarters with a line above and below the oval tail.
- Then she adds another curved line at the bottom of its chest to the lower fourth of its hindquarter.
- Straight lines will connect the legs’ upper parts to the feet.
- Once all the circles and ovals are connected, she adds the triangular ear you can see as well as the small ear portion of the head’s opposite side that you can only slightly see.
- When you draw the dog’s nose, think of it as a cylinder with an end. First, draw a curved triangle on the head where the nose should go. Then add a line from the triangle’s top towards the area where the eyes will be and a parallel line from the triangle’s bottom right corner. Connect these lines with a curved vertical line.
Step 3. Remove the circles and ovals.
Now that the dog’s major parts are all connected, the artist erases the circles and ovals and starts to draw a more realistic and lifelike dog.
- Place the nose at the end of the cylinder you drew earlier.
- Place the eyes in the center of the face close to where the bridge of the nose begins.
- You can see that the artist has added lines to indicate where the toes are in the dog’s paw.
- Draw lines to show where the leg extends into the body.
- Add the dog’s collar.
Step 4. Add shading.
Now you’re going to add life to the dog! The artist does this by using the 2H pencil for shading to give its body form and volume.
- Shade the dog’s inside left legs, making them darker to create shadows.
- Darken the area under and along the ear’s edge.
- Add the details of the mouth and darken.
- Note how the artist shades the chest and lightens it as she goes up the side of his body.
- Add shadows to the center of his hindquarter, shading down the front right leg.
- Darken the area under the tail where it meets the body and under its tip.
- Darken in the collar and chest.
There you have it! You’ve just drawn a cute dog. You can continue to add more details and shading until you’re satisfied with your results. We hope you’ve learned a lot and that this guide encourages you to draw more of your adorable, furry friends!
The Symbolism of the Sleeping Dog
The Meaning of the Dog in Renaissance Art
In Renaissance art, the dog was a common symbol and was often used to represent loyalty, protection, and watchfulness. It was often depicted as a faithful companion, guarding its master and representing the idea of vigilance and protection.
Representation of Marital Faithfulness and Purity
In Titian’s “Venus of Urbino,” the sleeping dog serves as a symbol of marital faithfulness and the woman’s purity. The dog represents the husband’s trust in his wife and the idea that women were expected to be virtuous and faithful to their husbands in the Renaissance.
The Husband’s Trust in the Wife
The presence of the sleeping dog in the painting is a visual representation of the husband’s trust in his wife. The dog symbolizes the husband’s belief in his wife’s purity and virtue, and his confidence that she will remain faithful to him.
Women’s Expected Virtue and Faithfulness in the Renaissance
In the Renaissance, women were expected to be virtuous and faithful to their husbands. The inclusion of the sleeping dog in “Venus of Urbino” reflects this ideal and serves as a reminder of the expectations placed on women during this time period.
The dog symbolizes the woman’s purity and her husband’s trust in her and serves as a visual representation of the values and ideals of the Renaissance.
Vitruvius and the Ideal Body Proportion
Vitruvius and His Treatise “De Architectura”
Vitruvius was a Roman architect and engineer who wrote “De architectura,” a treatise on architecture that was widely read in the Renaissance.
This work was considered to be a highly influential guide for architects and artists, and it provided a set of principles for designing and constructing buildings.
The Ideal Human Form is Described as Eight Heads Tall
In “De architectura,” Vitruvius described the ideal human form as being eight heads tall, a proportion that was considered to be both aesthetically pleasing and harmonious.
This idea of proportion and harmony was important in Renaissance art, and artists such as Leonardo da Vinci used it as a guide in their depictions of the human form.
The Importance of Proportion and Harmony in Renaissance Art
Proportion and harmony were seen as essential elements of beauty in Renaissance art, and artists sought to create works that embodied these ideals.
The ideal body proportion described by Vitruvius was widely adopted by artists and was used as a guide for creating aesthetically pleasing depictions of the human form.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Use of the Ideal Body Proportion
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, and he was known for his mastery of proportion and harmony in his art. He was influenced by Vitruvius’ ideas about the ideal body proportion, and he used this proportion as a guide in his depictions of the human form.
For example, in his famous painting “The Vitruvian Man,” Leonardo used Vitruvius’ ideal body proportion to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing depiction of the human form.
The Symbolism of the Sleeping Dog in Titian’s “Venus of Urbino”
| Symbol | Representation |
|---|---|
| Dog | Marital faithfulness and purity |
| Husband’s trust in wife | Visual representation of husband’s trust in wife’s purity and virtue |
| Women’s expected virtue and faithfulness | Reflection of the values and ideals of the Renaissance |
Who was Titian?
Titian was a famous Italian Renaissance painter, considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Venetian school. He was known for his skill in painting portraits, landscapes, and religious scenes, and his works are considered to be some of the most important masterpieces of the Renaissance.
What is the “Venus of Urbino”?
The “Venus of Urbino” is a painting by Titian, completed in 1538. It depicts a reclining female nude and is considered to be one of the most important works of Renaissance art. The painting is known for its sensual depiction of the female form and its use of symbolism, including the sleeping dog at the foot of the bed.
Who was Vitruvius?
Vitruvius was a Roman architect and engineer who wrote “De architectura,” a treatise on architecture that was widely read in the Renaissance. He is known for his ideas about proportion and harmony in architecture, and his work was highly influential in the Renaissance.
What was the significance of the ideal body proportion in Renaissance art?
In the Renaissance, proportion, and harmony were seen as essential elements of beauty, and artists sought to create works that embodied these ideals. Vitruvius described the ideal human form as being eight heads tall, and this proportion was widely adopted by artists and was used as a guide for creating aesthetically pleasing depictions of the human form.
Why was the dog a common symbol in Renaissance art?
The dog was a common symbol in Renaissance art and was often used to represent loyalty, protection, and watchfulness. It was often depicted as a faithful companion, guarding its master and representing the idea of vigilance and protection. In Titian’s “Venus of Urbino,” the sleeping dog serves as a symbol of marital faithfulness and the woman’s purity.
