#doghistory

Harry Brown Ashurst (1904–1995)

Little is known about the life of British painter Harry Brown Ashurst, whose surviving works suggest a close connection with the industrial communities of northern England.

This touching painting portrays a working man seated beside his Whippet, capturing the quiet companionship that made the breed such a familiar presence in mining towns throughout the twentieth century.

Far from the glamour of the show ring, the Whippet appears here as it so often was: a loyal companion at the end of a day's work, sharing the silence of ordinary life.

The Borzoi, known for its elegance and majesty, has a fascinating history spanning centuries of evolution. Born as a noble hunting dog in the Russian steppes, the Borzoi has adapted to new contexts while maintaining its essence as an agile predator and becoming an icon of elegance.

This study, enriched by the contributions of Yvonne McGehee, delves into the origins and evolution of the Borzoi, highlighting the importance of iconography as a historical record. Prints and photographs capture its morphological and cultural evolution.

An exclusive interview with Tariel Varlamovich Gabidzashvili, a leading figure in the Borzoi world, offers a unique perspective. Gabidzashvili, with more than 40 years of experience as a breeder and significant roles in Russian canine associations, has profoundly influenced the breed’s conservation and progress.

The Borzoi was not created for elegance alone.

For centuries, these remarkable sighthounds were expected to pursue one of Europe's most formidable predators: the wolf.

In Imperial Russia, wolf hunting with Borzoi required exceptional speed, courage and precise teamwork. Rather than killing the wolf outright, the dogs were bred to overtake it, seize it with extraordinary skill and hold it until the hunters arrived.

July 26, 1906.

More than a century ago, a Borzoi appeared on the cover of Vogue.

The illustration captures far more than a fashionable summer scene. The long, flowing silhouette of the Russian sighthound echoes the elegance of the woman beside it, creating a composition built on harmony, refinement and movement.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Borzoi had become one of the most admired dogs among Europe's and America's social elite. Its presence in art, fashion and illustration reflected not only its beauty, but also the fascination that this extraordinary breed inspired well beyond the hunting field.

The Borzoi was shaped by the hunt.

Every line, every proportion, every tension of the body comes from it.

This is not a form built on a standard. It is a form that answers a function.

Its structure does not explain speed. It follows it.

The Borzoi is what it does.

Many books tell the story of the Cirneco dell'Etna.

Very few helped shape its history.

First published in Catania in 1897, Consideration and Note on the Cirneco Dog by Dr. Mario Migneco was the first modern study devoted to the breed. It marked a turning point in the understanding of the Cirneco dell'Etna and sparked an important discussion among the dog experts of its time.

This new edition brings back a landmark work in the history of the breed, while also helping to clarify the identity of its author, Dr. Mario Migneco, who has often been confused with his son Maurizio, both devoted enthusiasts of the Cirneco.

An essential volume for anyone interested not only in the Cirneco dell'Etna itself, but also in the historical foundations of the breed and its early literature.

Chokha (active late 18th–early 19th century) Maharana Bhim Singh of Mewar in Procession

Among the attendants of Maharana Bhim Singh walks a richly caparisoned sighthound, a powerful symbol of prestige in the princely courts of India.

Prized for their speed, elegance, and hunting ability, sighthounds were valued companions of the Rajput rulers and often appeared alongside horses and falcons in courtly art.

The hortaya Borzaya on a Soviet Matchbox

Even the most ordinary objects can preserve a fragment of canine history.

This Soviet matchbox label depicts the Khortaya Borzaya, one of the oldest sighthounds of the Eurasian steppes. For decades, millions of matchboxes carried illustrations of dog breeds, transforming everyday household items into small lessons in natural history and cynology.

Today these labels are appreciated not only by collectors of matchbox art, but also by those interested in the cultural history of dogs.