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A collection of pets

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April 10th, 2023| 1 min readArts

A collection of pets

April 11 is National Pet Day, and to celebrate our furry and faithful, feathered and flighty, and hooved friends, the keepers of the art collections around campus contributed images to a slideshow of pets.

April 11 is National Pet Day, and to celebrate our furry and faithful, feathered and flighty, and hooved friends, the keepers of the art collections around campus contributed images to the following slideshow of pets. Some works are on view at the Anderson Collection and in the two photography exhibitions at the Cantor Arts Center, and others can be viewed online. Included are paintings of animals that were part of the Stanford family menagerie, a photo of the 78th Seabees adopted deer Bambi, and a print of the grumpiest of Persian cats.

Ed Keegan, of the 78th Seabees, feeding the battalion’s adopted Rusa deer Bambi in New Caledonia, 1945. — Ed Keegan, of the 78th Seabees, feeding the battalion’s adopted Rusa deer Bambi in New Caledonia, 1945. View online.
Image credit: Natale Bellantoni papers, Hoover Institution Archives.

Leon Trotsky at home in Mexico City feeding his chickens, c. 1940. His morning routine in exile included caring for his chickens and rabbits. — Leon Trotsky at home in Mexico City feeding his chickens, c. 1940. His morning routine in exile included caring for his chickens and rabbits. View online.
Image credit: Alexander Buchman papers, Hoover Institution Archives.

Woman hand-feeding her pet bird, c. 1940. — Woman hand-feeding her pet bird, c. 1940. View online.
Image credit: Alexander Buchman papers, Hoover Institution Archives.

This photo of a cat curled safely in the lap of a man perched on a stone wall is from an album of World War I photographs depicting the activities of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. It is captioned: “This American soldier is not worrying over the dangers and perils of war.” — This photo of a cat curled safely in the lap of a man perched on a stone wall is from an album of World War I photographs depicting the activities of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. It is captioned: “This American soldier is not worrying over the dangers and perils of war.” View online.
Image credit: Joseph Newton Hillhouse photograph collection, Hoover Institution Archives.

This is a loving portrait of Joan Brown’s dog Bob. — This is a loving portrait of Joan Brown’s dog Bob. View online.
Image credit: Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Untitled (Cardboard Dog), c. 1970. Mixed media on cardboard. Cantor Arts Center, gift of the Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation, 2000.111.

Christian Barthelmess was a musician with the U.S. Army who photographed life in the environs of various army bases for over 30 years. Alongside these joyful ice-skating women is a winningly posed pup. — Christian Barthelmess was a musician with the U.S. Army who photographed life in the environs of various army bases for over 30 years. Alongside these joyful ice-skating women is a winningly posed pup. Currently on view at the Cantor in A Change of Scenery.
Image credit: Christian Barthelmess (American, 1854–1906), Women Skating, Montana, c. 1885–95. Albumen print. Cantor Arts Center, Committee for Art Acquisitions Fund, 1981.158.

In this painting by Roy De Forest, the acclaimed Bay Area artist, educator, and pioneering figure in the Funk and Nut art movements, Hans Bricker takes the viewer on a journey with his trusty companion through a fantastical landscape. — In this painting by Roy De Forest, the acclaimed Bay Area artist, educator, and pioneering figure in the Funk and Nut art movements, Hans Bricker takes the viewer on a journey with his trusty companion through a fantastical landscape. Currently on view at the Anderson Collection.
Image credit: Roy De Forest (American, 1930–2007), Hans Bricker In The Tropics, 1974. Polymer on canvas. Anderson Collection, gift of Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson, and Mary Patricia Anderson Pence, 2014.1.045.

In his Guardians of the Golden Gate series, Stanford lecturer Jamil Hellu, MFA ’10, invited participants to create fictitious characters inspired by personal ideas around mythology, archetypal superheroes, and science fiction. With or without the outfit, the dogwalker in this newly acquired photograph from the series is clearly a hero to their furry charges. — In his Guardians of the Golden Gate series, Stanford lecturer Jamil Hellu, MFA ’10, invited participants to create fictitious characters inspired by personal ideas around mythology, archetypal superheroes, and science fiction. With or without the outfit, the dogwalker in this newly acquired photograph from the series is clearly a hero to their furry charges.
Image credit: Jamil Hellu (American, b. 1976 in Brazil), Sarama, 2013, from the series Guardians of the Golden Gate. Digital pigment print.

California painter and photographer Andrew Putnam Hill depicts Tootsie, the Stanford family dog, lounging in front of his dog house. — California painter and photographer Andrew Putnam Hill depicts Tootsie, the Stanford family dog, lounging in front of his dog house. View online.
Image credit: Andrew Putnam Hill (American, 1853–1922), Tootsie, 1889. Oil on canvas. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford Family Collections, JLS.16097.

Friedrich Fröbel’s theories about learning, play, education, and the importance of motherhood in child development greatly influenced Gertrude Käsebier, and many of her later photographs include children. This photograph features Käsebier’s grandson as well as an adorable kitten. — Friedrich Fröbel’s theories about learning, play, education, and the importance of motherhood in child development greatly influenced Gertrude Käsebier, and many of her later photographs include children. This photograph features Käsebier’s grandson as well as an adorable kitten. Currently on view at the Cantor in A Change of Scenery.
Image credit: Gertrude Stanton Käsebier (American, 1852–1934), Happy Days, 1902, printed in 1905. Photogravure. Cantor Arts Center, gift of Graham Nash, 1978.234.23.

Louis-Eugène Lambert was a prolific painter of cats. Hallmarks of sentimentality and kitsch, his pictures show our feline friends doing what they do best: breaking into places they don’t belong, destroying flower arrangements, stalking pet birds, and of course, cuddling. — Louis-Eugène Lambert was a prolific painter of cats. Hallmarks of sentimentality and kitsch, his pictures show our feline friends doing what they do best: breaking into places they don’t belong, destroying flower arrangements, stalking pet birds, and of course, cuddling. View online.
Image credit: Louis-Eugène Lambert (French, 1825–1900), The Hamper, c. 1881. Oil on cedar. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford Family Collections, JLS.17710.

Barbara Morgan and Berenice Abbott were two successful interwar photographers based in New York. At first glance, this photograph seems like a somber wartime portrait, but the cat nestled into Abbott’s arm adds a bit of warmth. — Barbara Morgan and Berenice Abbott were two successful interwar photographers based in New York. At first glance, this photograph seems like a somber wartime portrait, but the cat nestled into Abbott’s arm adds a bit of warmth. Other photographs by Morgan and Abbott are currently on view at the Cantor in A Change of Scenery and Reality Makes Them Dream.
Image credit: Barbara Morgan (American, 1900–1992), Berenice Abbott with Cat, 1942. Gelatin silver print. Cantor Arts Center, gift of the artist in memory of Belva Kibler, 1986.164.

Harry Peterson, the first curator of the Leland Stanford Jr. Museum (now the Cantor Arts Center), was also a photographer. This image from his Home Series features his wife and son enchanted by a charming black dog. — Harry Peterson, the first curator of the Leland Stanford Jr. Museum (now the Cantor Arts Center), was also a photographer. This image from his Home Series features his wife and son enchanted by a charming black dog. Currently on view at the Cantor in A Change of Scenery.
Image credit: Harry Claude Peterson (American, 1876–1941), Austin, his Auntie Maude, and his Mother, c. 1908, from the Home Series. Glass positive lantern slide. Cantor Arts Center, gift of Andrew Smith and Claire Lozier, Tucson, 2022.65.

Aaron Siskind’s photography series on St. Joseph’s House, a shelter run by the Catholic Worker Movement in New York, gently draws our attention to small details. Perhaps none are more delightful than the French Bulldog basking in the sun at the feet of his human companion. — Aaron Siskind’s photography series on St. Joseph’s House, a shelter run by the Catholic Worker Movement in New York, gently draws our attention to small details. Perhaps none are more delightful than the French Bulldog basking in the sun at the feet of his human companion. Currently on view at the Cantor in Reality Makes Them Dream.
Image credit: Aaron Siskind (American, 1903–1991), Untitled from St. Joseph’s House, c. 1938. Gelatin silver print. Cantor Arts Center, Vincent Bressi Fund, 1986.62.

This grumpy Persian cat does not seem thrilled to be sitting for artist Beth van Hoesen, AB ’48. — This grumpy Persian cat does not seem thrilled to be sitting for artist Beth van Hoesen, AB ’48. View online.
Image credit: Beth Van Hoesen (American, 1926–2010), Puff, 1980. Drypoint with aquatint. Cantor Arts Center, gift of the artist, 1984.29.

A still moment featuring Bill the dog and Leland Stanford’s horse Abe Edgington, who was featured in Eadweard Muybridge’s Horse in Motion studies. — A still moment featuring Bill the dog and Leland Stanford’s horse Abe Edgington, who was featured in Eadweard Muybridge’s Horse in Motion studies. View online.
Image credit: Thomas Kirby Van Zandt (American, 1814–1886), Abe Edgington with Dog “Bill,” 1876. Oil on canvas. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford Family Collections, 1962.301.

Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover with their dog, Weegie, at their presidential getaway, Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park in Madison County, Virginia, Aug. 19, 1932. — Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover with their dog, Weegie, at their presidential getaway, Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park in Madison County, Virginia, Aug. 19, 1932.
Image credit: Hoover Institution Archives.

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Robin Wander

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