Winged Dog

Copied Stephan W. Polaha, Winged Dog, ca. 1975, painted wood, metal, and glass, 17 7⁄8 x 22 x 10 1⁄2 in. (45.4 x 55.9 x 26.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.77

Artwork Details

Title
Winged Dog
Artist
Date
ca. 1975
Location
Dimensions
17 7⁄8 x 22 x 10 1⁄2 in. (45.4 x 55.9 x 26.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
painted wood, metal, and glass
Classifications
Subjects
  • Fantasy — animal — dog
Object Number
1997.124.77
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.77

Artwork Description

Stephan W. Polaha created fanciful creatures that were often an amalgamation of different figures and concepts from his life. In Winged Dog, Polaha added wings to man's best friend. The blank expression and bright red mouth suggest that this spotted canine is a new whimsical breed. Polaha had pet dogs and often included images of dogs in his pieces. He was also a devout Catholic, and Winged Dog could have served as a memorial to a lost pet.