I may be a bit biased, but I think of my dog Charlie as a work of art. He’s a beauty, not a beast. He’s very friendly and curious and loves going on walks around the city. While we were out the other day, we stopped for a break in the outer garden/courtyard of the Palazzo Comunale. Charlie was happy to sit in the sun and people watch. He looked pretty glorious in the process.

While we were sitting there, I saw a man and his dog walk by and I couldn’t help but be reminded of the painting Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (Dinamismo di un cane al guinzaglio) by Futurist artist, Giacomo Balla. The Futurists were an Italian modern art and social movement in the early 1900s. I’ve always loved this painting and am a fan of the artwork of the Futurists, though I don’t agree necessarily with their manifesto. But I find their artwork fascinating and certainly dynamic.

My poor little photo sadly doesn’t convey the movement of the little dog, but watching him walk along the street did feel a bit like the painting had come to life. It’s always wonderful seeing art in everyday life, in a variety of forms. It’s always there, you just have to look.