7. Presidential Pet Portait
Photograph by David Woo, American Kennel Club
Pet portraiture gained popularity during the mid-1800s thanks in part to Queen Victoria, a British sovereign who loved to have portraits painted of her dogs. The trend made its way across the pond to America continued to be a popular trend through the 1940s. A selection of paintings from the AKC’s extensive collection now hang in the double-height first floor gallery of the MoD, where architects designed displays that can swivel and move to easily adjust to accomodate different exhibits. One of the highlights visitors can see in this gallery is a portrait of Millie, a former first dog, lounging on the south lawn of the White House. Millie, an English springer spaniel, belonged to George H. W. Bush. The portrait in the MoD was painted by Christine Merrill and is accompanied by a letter written by former first lady Barbara Bush to the American Kennel Club on the importance of dogs. The museum also has portraits of pets who belonged to President George W. Bush as well.