Artwork of the Week - 30th June 2014

Thierry Poncelet - Ancestral Canine III.

It seems we are not alone in loving classical paintings with a twist! Thierry Poncelet's classic portraits with an added sense of humour are selling fast at Union Art, and we love them! These hybrid creatures are posed in a traditional portrait style with accessories and outfits suitable for a aristocrat. The expression on the faces of the dogs contribute to the humour of the artwork. A dog more than any other animal has such a register of expressions that can illustrate many traits and many emotions.

Thierry Poncelet was born in Brussels in 1946. At a young age his Grandmother, who was a well known portrait painter, encouraged him to paint and draw.

After his education, he spent a few years working for a picture restorer at the studio of a well-known painter, Max Massot. During this time, he learnt the technique of painting restoration. However, his love for painting soon outgrew his interest in restoration, and he decided to become a full-time oil painter.

The first "Aristochien", as he calls his portraits, come about when Thierry Poncelet was repairing an antique portrait for an art dealer. Bored by the ugly and unexpressive face of the Lady, he substituted his own golden cocker's head for the lady's. When the dealer saw it, instead of being outraged, he commissioned more. "My dog portraits are a combination of my two most favourite things in the world - ancestral portraits, which I collect, and dogs" said the artist.

Thierry Poncelet paintings have gained him international fame, his portraits have been exhibited at many leading galleries in London, Paris, Milan and New York. His paintings are highly sought after throughout the world and we are delighted to be able to offer an extensive collection of artwork from this artist here at Union Art.