Mlle Charlotte Berthier 1883

Here is the audio guide script: In this painting by Renoir, Mlle Charlotte Berthier is seen holding a small dog, next to a vase of flowers. The dog serves as a symbol of fidelity and companionship. Dogs have been featured in portraits since antiquity to convey the sitter’s loyalty, domesticity, and status, an archetype that can be traced from ancient Roman mosaics to Renaissance court portraiture. In ancient Greece, the presence of a dog was seen as an attribute of marital fidelity, often appearing on funerary steles as a guardian of the home and family. Through the centuries, this symbolism has softened, yet the dog remains a potent symbol of the bond between humans and animals. Renoir masterfully captures the intimate connection between the sitter and her pet, resonating with our own deep-seated need for companionship. Thus, the image of Mlle Charlotte with her dog engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking feelings of warmth and familiarity across time. A symbol that resurfaces time and again, bearing new significance with each incarnation.